What Makes Stalkers Kill

Not all stalkers are killers, but most killers are stalkers. Determining the factors that differentiate the violent stalker from the nonviolent stalker is complex. Statistical data is skewed because many cases that begin as stalking escalate to more serious crimes and are then classified as such. For example, a criminal who stalked his victim for two years and then murdered them is often statistically classified as only a murderer. While state reporting is improving in this area, it is a flaw in a lot of the statistical data that is currently available. It is thus difficult to obtain hard data as to how many murders were the end result of stalking behavior. Another issue with the current data is that about 50 percent of stalking crimes go unreported by the victims. This is particularly true in the cases of stalking between intimate partners or when a stalker who is known to the victim. Victims who do not report being stalked often cite their reasons as fearing reprisal from the stalker or their belief that the police cannot help. Lastly, stalkers being under-identified by the criminal justice system has added to the inaccuracies in the data. An Office of Justice Programs survey of criminal justice practitioners found that stalkers continue to be charged and sentenced under harassment, intimidation, or other related laws instead of under a states anti-stalking statute. Stalking Defined Prior to 1990, there were no anti-stalking laws in the United States. California was the first state to criminalize stalking after several high-profile stalking cases including the attempted murder of actress Theresa Saldana, the 1988 mass murder at ESL Incorporated by a former employee and stalker Richard Farley, and the 1989 murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer by stalker Robert John Bardo. Other states were quick to follow suit and, by the end of 1993, all states had anti-stalking laws. Stalking is largely defined by the National Institute of Justice as a course of conduct directed at a specific person that involves repeated (two or more occasions) visual or physical proximity, nonconsensual communication, or verbal, written, or implied threats, or a combination thereof, that would cause a reasonable person fear. Though recognized as a crime throughout the United States, stalking varies widely in statute definition, scope, crime classification, and penalty. Stalker and Victim Relationship While the criminalization of stalking is relatively new, stalking is not a new human behavior. While there are many studies performed in reference to the victims of stalkers, the research on stalkers is more limited. Why people become stalkers is complicated and multifaceted. However, recent forensic research has helped to understand different patterns of stalking behavior. This research has aided in identifying those stalkers who are likely to be the most dangerous and high risk for injuring or murdering their victims. The relationship between the stalker and the victim has proven a key factor in understanding the level of risks to the victims. Forensic research has broken down the relationships into three groups. Former intimate partners. This includes current and former husbands, cohabitants, and boyfriends and girlfriends.Friends, family members, and acquaintances,A private stranger which includes public figures. The former intimate partner group is the largest category of stalking cases. It is also the group where the highest risks exist for the stalkers to become violent. Several studies have identified a significant association between intimate partner stalking and sexual assault. Classifying Stalker Behavior In 1993, stalker expert Paul Mullen, who was the director and chief psychiatrist at Forensicare in Victoria, Australia, performed extensive studies on the behavior of stalkers. The research was designed to help diagnose and categorize stalkers, and it included the typical triggers that cause their behavior to become more volatile. Furthermore, these studies included recommended treatment plans. Mullen and his research team came up with five categories of stalkers: Rejected Stalker Rejected stalking is seen in cases where there is an unwanted breakdown of a close relationship, most often with a romantic partner, but it can include family members, friends, and work associates. The desire to seek revenge becomes an alternative when the stalker’s hope for reconciliation with his victim is diminished. The stalker will characteristically use stalking as a substitute for the lost relationship. Stalking provides the opportunity for continued contact with the victim. It also allows the stalker to feel more control over the victim and provides a way to nurse the stalker’s damaged self-esteem. Intimacy Seeker Stalkers classified as intimacy seekers are driven by loneliness and mental illness. They are delusional and often believe that they are in love with a complete stranger and that the feeling is reciprocated (erotomanic delusions). Intimacy seekers are generally socially awkward and intellectually weak. They will emulate what they believe is normal behavior for a couple in love. They will buy their true love flowers, send them intimate gifts and write them an excessive amount of love letters. Intimacy seekers are often unable to recognize that their attention is unwanted because of their belief that they share a special bond with their victim. Incompetent Stalker The incompetent stalkers and intimacy seekers share some of the same characteristics in that they both tend to be socially awkward and intellectually challenged and their targets are strangers.  Unlike intimacy stalkers, incompetent stalkers are not looking for a long lasting relationship, but rather for something short term like a date or a brief sexual encounter. They recognize when their victims are rejecting them, but this only fuels their efforts to win them over. At this stage, their methods become increasingly negative and fearful to the victim. For example, a love note at this stage may say Im watching you rather than I love you. Resentful Stalker Resentful stalkers want revenge, not a relationship, with their victims. They often feel that they have been belittled, humiliated, or mistreated. They consider themselves the victim rather than the person they are stalking. According to Mullen, resentful stalkers suffer from paranoia and they often had fathers who were intensely controlling. They will compulsively dwell on the times in their lives when they experienced extreme distress. They act out in the present day the negative emotions that their past experiences have caused. They attach responsibility for the painful experiences they suffered in the past the victims they are targeting in the present. Predator Stalker Like the resentful stalker, the predator stalker does not seek a relationship with his victim, but instead finds satisfaction in feeling power and control over their victims. Research proves that the predator stalker is the most violent type of stalker in that they often fantasize about physically harming their victims, often in a sexual way. They find immense pleasure in letting their victims know that they can harm them at any time. They often collect personal information about their victims and will involve the victims family members or professional contacts in their stalking behavior, usually in some derogatory way. Stalking and Mental Illness Not all stalkers have a mental disorder, but it is not uncommon. At least 50 percent of stalkers that suffer from mental disorders have often had some involvement with the criminal justice or mental health services. They suffer from disorders such as personality disorders, schizophrenia, depression, with substance abuse being the most common disorder. Mullens research suggests that most stalkers should not be treated as criminals but rather people who are suffering from mental disorders and who are in need of professional help. Resources and Further Reading Mohandie, Meloy, Green-McGowan, Williams (2006). Journal of Forensic Sciences 51, 147-155)

The Taklamakan Desert in China

In the Uigur language, Taklamakan may mean you can get into it but can never get out, according to Travel Guide China. We cant verify whether or not the translation is accurate, but the label fits such a large, dry, dangerous place for humans and most animals. Large lakes, including Lop Nor and Kara Koschun, have dried up, so over the millennia, the area of the desert has increased. The Taklamakan Desert is an inhospitable approximately 1000x500 km (193,051 sq. mi.) oval. It is far from any ocean, and so hot, dry, and cold, by turns, with shifting sand dunes covering 85% of the surface, propelled by northerly winds, and sandstorms. Alternate Spellings:  Taklimakan and Teklimakan Lack of Rainfall Wang Yue and Dong Guangrun of the Desert Research Institute in Lanzhou, China, say that in the Taklamakan Desert the average annual rainfall is less than 40 mm (1.57 inches). It is about 10 mm—thats just over a third of an inch—in the center and 100 mm at the bases of the mountains, according to Terrestrial Ecoregions—Taklimakan desert. Bordering Countries While it is in China, and bordered by various mountain ranges (Kunlun, Pamir, and Tian Shan), there are other countries around it: Tibet, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, and India. Ancient Inhabitants People would have lived there comfortably 4000 years ago. Mummies were found in the region, perfectly preserved by the arid conditions, are presumed to be Indo-European-speaking Caucasians. Science, in a 2009 article, reports: In the northeastern edge of the desert, archaeologists from 2002 until 2005 excavated an extraordinary cemetery called Xiaohe, which has been radiocarbon-dated to as early as 2000 B.C.E.... A vast oval sand hill covering 25 hectares, the site is a forest of 140 standing poles marking the graves of long-lost society and environment. The poles, wood coffins, and carved wooden statues with pronounced noses come from the poplar forests of a far cooler and wetter climate. Silk Road Trade Routes One of the worlds largest deserts, the Taklamakan, is located in the northwest region of modern China, in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. There are oases located on two routes around the desert that served as important trading spots on the Silk Road. Along the north, the route went by the Tien Shan Mountains and along the south, the Kunlun Mountains of the Tibetan Plateau. Economist Andrà © Gunder Frank, who traveled along the northern route with UNESCO, says the southern route was most used in ancient times. It joined up with the northern route at Kashgar to head into India/Pakistan, Samarkand, and Bactria. Sources Archaeology in China: Bridging East and West, by Andrew Lawler; Science 21 August 2009: Vol. 325 no. 5943 pp. 940-943.News and Short Contributions, by Derrold W. Holcomb; Journal of Field Archaeology.On the Silk Road: An Academic Travelogue Andre Gunder Frank Economic and Political Weekly Vol. 25, No. 46 (Nov. 17, 1990), pp. 2536-2539.Sand Sea History of the Taklimakan for the Past 30,000 Years. by Wang Yue and Dong Guangrun Geografiska Annaler. Series A, Physical Geography Vol. 76, No. 3 (1994), pp. 131-141.Ancient Inner Asian Nomads: Their Economic Basis and Its Significance in Chinese History, by Nicola Di Cosmo; The Journal of Asian Studies Vol. 53, No. 4 (Nov. 1994), pp. 1092-1126.

The Dietary Patterns Of Americans Essay - 1291 Words

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Evelyn Lau Essay Example For Students

Evelyn Lau Essay Evelyn Lau is an author with which I can identify with. Her lack of humilitygives rise to self-awareness. She does not hide under a mask of sorrow, shesimply puts into words how she reacts and feels towards her lifes struggles. She does not convey a deep sense of hostility or arrogance, but merely addressesthe conflicts through out her life with a graceful, honest manner. One can seehow Evelyn allows herself to let go of all inhibitions and secrets througheach of her works. She can face her past, and acknowledge her pain, unlike mostpeople. Her ability to do this is what gives every person an identity they canrelate with; whether it be living on the streets, coping with a drug addiction,or dealing with a dysfunctional family. Evelyn, unlike most people, canpin point her torment. Her father was the center of her universe (Details 3),always loving, compassionate and with someone she could share her childhooddreams. However, their relationship ended abruptly while she was only ten yearsold. This severed bond caused her much grief. She longed for love and affection,which her mother could not provide. Evelyns self loathing began while she wasa per-adolescent ( Details 2). Her fathers emotional passivity caused E velyn todestroy herself physically. She chose her body as her tool of destruction, forshe felt, no one could control her body, not even her neurotic mother (Details2). I do not think that Evelyn blames her fathers lack of love, on the fact thathe lost his job(2). It seems to me that he lost himself, for he saw his daughteras a young woman; not as a child. This realization may have been the reason hefaded from her life. He lost touch with Evelyns child hood, and couldnt copewith the idea that his little girl was now a blossoming young lady. Hisselfishness caused her so much angst. She began to believe that her father andmother both disliked her presence, as a part of their family. (Details 3). Atthe age of nine Evelyn began reading Harlequin Romance novels(Details 4) as away to vicariously feel love. This love enabled her to escape the harshreality that was her life. However ,it ruined my idea of male femalerelationships (Details 2) Evelyn began to believe that women were supposed to be weak, dependent creatures. And men were supposed to be older, handsome,stronger, ideal mates for the weak woman. Her notions of this streered hertowards bulimia. Her bulimia took over her life. It was the one thing shethought she could control, and the one thing she thought she could hide. But herperfect vision was one where she could continue her weak womanly characteristics(bulimia) and have a father figure mend her emotional scars. Her longingfor love is what drew her to self-mutilation. In a sick sense I can see why shemight have done this. She longed for the father she had as a young girl, toswoop her into his arms and caress her nightmares into oblivion. As a result oflittle fatherly love, Evelyn began her search for lovers which she classified asthe father figure, like those in the romance novels, I always had thisthing for older menI look for father figures all the time (Details 2). She openly admits that her search for men which can love her like a daughter isa perverse one, and one which causes many problems in the relationship (2). However, she continues this fantasy, and divulges her true feelings aboutchildren I hate childrenI cant imagine getting pregnant and having achild. I think that would be horrible.. (1). This quote reveals to me that asa person Evelyn is selfish. She does not wish to share her fatherly loverwith that of a child, for then both the child and the mother would be graspingfor the fathers attention. As I read through Evelyns works, I have come tothe conclusion that although she is able to pronounce her hatred she still hasmany skeletons in the closet. She will not face her father to this day, allowingregret, guilt, and anger to build inside of her (2). Evelyn had reason to feelsuppressed by her parents, but as a rising star one mustnt succumb to theidea that ones past is fiction in ones novel. And she has yet to reachthat pinnacle of understanding.