Video Learning // Stalking in Media vs. Real Life

TFC’s Eric Parsons covers the basics about stalking, including a definition, example behaviors, the danger associated with it, and how movies and TV shows often misrepresent it.

To kick off our new video learning series, TFC Education and Outreach Coordinator Eric Parsons takes a look at the crime of stalking. This short video covers some of the basics of stalking with a particular focus on its correlation with lethality.

Research about femicide victims published in 2020 found that 85% of attempted and 76% of completed intimate partner homicide victims were stalked in the year prior to being attacked. The same researchers found that only about half of victims ever reported stalking in that year prior to an attempted or completed homicide (only 46% of victims who survived an attempted homicide reported, and 54% of victims who ultimately were killed by their partners reported).

The low reporting rates are consistent with what we see with other violent crimes like intimate partner violence, which goes unreported about half the time, and sexual violence, where only 1 in 3 victims will ever make a report to law enforcement. But Eric’s point about the way most media representations of stalking get it wrong also helps explain the low reporting rates: If stalking is portrayed in movies and television in a way that fails to give an accurate impression of the danger and terror that define it, a general audience may downplay the seriousness of stalking in their own lives, or fail altogether at identifying a clear pattern of stalking in reality.

This short, informative video defines stalking in clear, simple terms. Give it a watch below to learn the basics, revisit it if you ever want a refresher or a gut-check on a pattern of behavior that you’re concerned about, and share it with others who might be looking for a quick overview for themselves or a group.

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If you or someone you know is experiencing stalking, The Friendship Center can help. Check out our services page to learn about our free, confidential, 24/7 services and visit our stalking resource page to explore resources for victims and advocates.

If you find this video helpful, be sure to check out all of our short educational videos. We add new ones on different topics on an ongoing basis and we’d love to hear from you if there’s a topic that you’d like us to cover that you don’t see a video for. For a deeper dive on any of these topics, consider checking out our education page to see some of the popular presentations we offer and learn how you can get in touch with us for more info about our education offerings.