This week, a case involving a woman who was arrested for stalking after chasing a doctor and his family in Minas Gerais for five years drew attention and had repercussions on social media.
The woman's arrest also comes amid other content that went viral: the Netflix series “Bebê Rena”. The work, based on real events, shows the interaction of a man with his stalker and the dependence created from this “relationship”.
But after all, what is a stalker and how does he behave?
The concept was widely disseminated and popularized on the internet, but it can manifest itself in various forms of unwanted contact. A CNN spoke with some experts who explain how this crime is configured, common behaviors of those involved in the situation and what to do if this is happening to you.
The repetition of the act of stalking another, whether in the virtual environment or in life outside the screen, is what characterizes the action of “stalking”.
“It is the repeated conduct of someone that disturbs the privacy or freedom of another person”, explains Rafael Paiva, professor of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure.
There is no specific time for obsessive stalking to be considered a crime.
“The frequency and intensity of actions are considered when evaluating the aggressor’s behavior”, highlights André Santos Pereira, President of ADPESP, Association of Police Delegates of the State of São Paulo.
Psychological aspects
Being a victim of stalking can impact everything from a person's self-esteem to more serious issues such as the development of psychological disorders.
“It can trigger several mental triggers that can extend and impact your work environment, social spaces, social media, family ties, among others” explains Beatriz Vieira, cognitive behavioral psychologist.
Stalkers are people with obsessive behaviors that stem from obsessive thoughts. The psychologist explains that they are initially convincing people, who create stories that could even be real, but are far from reality.
“It's as if he distorts reality into something else that pleases him more as a way of resolving other deeper emotional issues” adds the psychologist.
On the other hand, victims of “stalking” also exhibit behaviors that can be noticed by friends and family. The victim may develop psychological disorders such as GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), Panic Syndrome, Social Phobia, among others.
“It is very common for the victim to blame themselves for what happened, for the people who end up involved and affected in the situation and for the false feeling that they could have done something different” concludes Beatriz.
Challenges in investigating and proving the crime
The delay in sentencing a woman for the crime of stalking a doctor in Minas Gerais highlights the challenges surrounding the investigation and punishment of stalking cases in Brazil.
Among the main obstacles, experts cite the lack of awareness on the topic, the complexity of collecting evidence and the difficulty in proving the aggressor's intention.
Anyone who identifies themselves as a victim of stalking must go to a police station and register the incident. It is important to present all the evidence you have.
“If the victim is a woman, she should preferably look for a police station specialized in assisting women and, if feasible, request urgent protective measures”, highlights Enzo Fachini, lawyer and master in Criminal Law.
When combating stalking, care in collecting evidence is essential to ensure that justice is served. Witnesses, call and message records, security camera images and even digital evidence, such as social media prints, can be decisive in convicting the attacker.
It is also necessary to express an interest in seeing the perpetrator of the persecution investigated. The Court stipulates a specific period for victims to represent themselves against their attackers.
“It is necessary that, within 6 months, the victim formally expresses his desire to represent against the persecutor” highlights Professor Paiva.
Source: CNN Brasil
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