Stalking, homicide, and catathymic process: a case study.
Despite the proliferation of research on various aspects of stalking, there has been relatively little study of stalkers who commit homicide. In this article, a man who stalked and killed a casual acquaintance is reported. He developed an idea to kill her that, at first, seemed ego-alien and unreal but eventually became fixed and was accompanied by a mounting inner pressure to act. The concept of catathymic process--a change in thinking whereby the offender comes to believe that he can resolve his inner conflict by committing an act of extreme violence against someone to whom he feels emotionally bonded--is of particular help in understanding this case, as well as similar cases of stalking that culminate in homicide.
Schlesinger
Louis B
LB
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, 445 W. 59th St., New York, NY 10019, USA.
D000328:Adult; D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology*; D006708:Homicide / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009770:Obsessive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*