The RECON Typology of Stalking: Reliability and Validity Based Upon a Large Sample of North American Stalkers

Abstract

A new typology of stalking, RECON (relationship and context-based), is proposed, based upon the prior relationship between the pursuer and the victim, and the context in which the stalking occurs. The static typology yields four groups: Intimate, Acquaintance, Public Figure, and Private Stranger. The typology was tested on a large (N = 1005) nonrandom sample of North American stalkers gathered from prosecutorial agencies, a large police department, an entertainment corporation security department, and the authors' files. Interrater reliability for group assignment was 0.95 (ICC). Discriminant validity (p < 0.01) was demonstrated on a variety of demographic, clinical, pursuit, threat, and violence characteristics among and between groups. Findings confirm and extend the work of other researchers, most notably the very high risk of threats and violence among prior sexually intimate stalkers, the very low risk of threats and violence among public figure (celebrity) stalkers, and the negative relationship between stalking violence and psychosis.

How Do Police Respond to Stalking? An Examination of the Risk Management Strategies and Tactics Used in a Specialized Anti-Stalking Law Enforcement Unit

“…The relationship between the stalker and the victim was coded using the RECON (RElationship and CONtext) typology developed by Mohandie et al (2006). The RECON typology identifies four classes of relationships: (a) intimate stalkers, who offend against individuals with whom they shared an intimate relationship, (b) acquaintance stalkers, who had employment-related, friendship, or client-based relationships with their victims, (c) public figure stalkers, who pursue public figures with whom they have had little or no direct contact and, (d) private stranger stalkers, who pursue strangers with whom they have had minor contact.…”

The magnitude of the injury pattern in femicides by stabbing in Colombian women

“…Likewise, other researchers have pointed out that physical violence against women may be greater if offenders are current or former partners rather than strangers or acquaintances (13)(14)(15)28,29). Multiple reasons have been attached to this phenomenon by psychologists, but these reasons may be classified into two main trends (13).…”

“…Likewise, if the offender is the victim's partner, physical violence may be greater than that inflicted by strangers or acquaintances (14,15). Consequently, the victim-offender relationship might have a significant correlation with the age of the victims and the magnitude of the injury.…”

“…As younger and more fertile women are considered more "valuable" than postreproductive age women, the injury pattern exerted by men would be greater to communicate to other men that they have exclusive sexual access and control on the reproductive capability (12). In this way, as highlighted by Wigdor & Artazo (27), men exert control over the lives and bodies of women within a patriarchal society context as the fruit of the colonization process and establishment of a strict religiosity.Likewise, other researchers have pointed out that physical violence against women may be greater if offenders are current or former partners rather than strangers or acquaintances (13)(14)(15)28,29). Multiple reasons have been attached to this phenomenon by psychologists, but these reasons may be classified into two main trends (13).…”

Female stalking: a systematic review

“…27 There were 143 females in the total study sample of 1005 subjects (14.2%). The average age was 35 ± 12.01 (range 12-76) years.…”