Stalking Behavior Checklist

Abstract

The Stalking Behavior Checklist (SBC) is a 25-item self-report psychological scale developed by F. L. Coleman. Its primary function is to systematically quantify and document the frequency and severity of behaviors associated with stalking victimization. The instrument is highly valuable for individuals experiencing persistent unwanted pursuit, providing a structured framework to identify actions ranging from subtle harassment to explicit threats and acts of physical damage.

The SBC is particularly relevant in legal and clinical contexts concerning post-separation abuse and domestic violence, as it helps victims compile objective evidence of patterned behavior that may constitute criminal stalking. It is essential to note that while the SBC is a powerful documentation tool, it is not intended to replace professional psychological assessment or legal counsel.

Keywords

Stalking, Victimization, Pursuit, Intimate Partner Violence, Domestic Violence, Harassment, Psychological Assessment, Behavioral Checklist, Coercive Control, Forensic Psychology.

Authors

Coleman, F. L.

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Purpose

The central purpose of the Stalking Behavior Checklist is to provide a comprehensive, standardized method for recording specific behaviors related to stalking victimization. This structure is crucial for victims who might otherwise minimize or overlook the cumulative impact of escalating harassment or subtle coercive tactics.

By quantifying the scope and frequency of unwanted pursuit, the SBC supports proactive safety planning and the compilation of necessary evidence for legal proceedings, especially in high-risk situations involving relationship termination or established patterns of coercive control.

Construct

The SBC is designed to measure the overarching construct of Stalking Victimization, defined as the experience of persistent, unwanted pursuit behaviors that generate fear, anxiety, or distress in the target. Coleman operationalized this construct into two empirically supported dimensions, reflecting the duality of perpetrator actions.

These two core dimensions include: 1) The Violent Behavior dimension, encompassing direct aggression, threats of physical harm, and property damage; and 2) The Harassing Behavior (or Pursuit) dimension, which covers acts of surveillance, unwanted communication, monitoring, and unwelcome presence at the victim’s locations.

Validity

While specific statistical data regarding criterion or concurrent validity were not included in the source material, the theoretical validity of the SBC is strongly supported by its foundation in academic research. The instrument was developed based on Coleman’s 1997 study examining the critical link between stalking behavior and the well-documented cycle of domestic violence.

Furthermore, the clear empirical separation between the Violent Behavior and Harassing Behavior subscales enhances the scale’s construct validity. This two-factor structure aligns effectively with established typologies of aggression and patterns of post-separation Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), demonstrating that the instrument accurately captures the spectrum of behaviors experienced by victims.

Reliability

Specific psychometric reliability figures, such as Cronbach’s alpha for internal consistency or test-retest reliability, are not detailed in the available documentation. This information is typically required for full academic evaluation.

However, as a behavioral checklist focused on frequency reporting, the scale’s practical reliability depends heavily on the victim’s ability to accurately recall and document specific, observable events within the defined reporting period, ensuring consistency in the documentation of the perpetrator’s actions.

Factor Analysis

The structure of the Stalking Behavior Checklist is empirically supported by a two-factor model, likely derived through Factor Analysis or a robust theoretical grouping based on observed patterns of perpetrator behavior. This analysis established two distinct subscales that categorize the types of pursuit behavior experienced by the victim.

The two resulting subscales are: 1) The Violent Behavior Subscale (comprising Items 1–12), which measures serious acts including physical harm, threats, property damage, and legal transgressions such as violating a restraining order; and 2) The Harassing Behavior Subscale (comprising Items 13–25), which measures behaviors related to surveillance, unwanted contact, monitoring, and unwelcome presence at the victim’s locations (e.g., home or work).

Instrument

Test Type: Behavioral Checklist; Self-report Psychological scale.

Format: 25 items scored on a 6-point frequency scale.

Language Available: English (Original).

Population Group: Victims of stalking or unwanted pursuit.

Age Group: Adults (Implied due to contextual focus on IPV and legal items like restraining orders).

Population Details: Primarily utilized with individuals who have experienced Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) or post-relationship harassment and termination.

Test Methodology: Respondents are instructed to rate the frequency of each of the 25 behaviors based on the following 6-point scale:

• 1 = never
• 2 = once a month or less
• 3 = two to three times a month
• 4 = once or twice a week
• 5 = three to six times a week
• 6 = once a day or more

Scoring involves calculating the mean of the item values within each respective factor (Violent or Harassing behavior). Elevated mean scores indicate greater levels of reported violent or harassing behaviors experienced by the respondent.

Keywords

Victimization assessment, Coercive control, Abuse, Harassment scale, Forensic psychology, Relationship violence, Post-separation abuse.

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Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: [Information not provided in source]

Affiliation Email addresses: [Information not provided in source]

Correspondence Address: [Information not provided in source]

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The research supporting the development of the Stalking Behavior Checklist was originally published in 1997. Copyright ownership is held by Sage Publications, based in Thousand Oaks, CA. Researchers and commercial entities seeking widespread or derivative use of the instrument must obtain explicit permission from the copyright holder.

The instrument is recognized and included in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Compendium of Assessment Tools related to Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Perpetration. The original PDF compilation can be downloaded here: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/IPV_Compendium.pdf

Reference’s

Coleman FL. Stalking behavior and the cycle of domestic violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 1997;12:420–428.

National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC). (Source for dissemination/promotion).

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Items of the Stalking Behavior Checklist

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. Broke into your home.
2. Violated a restraining order.
3. Attempted to break into your car.
4. Threatened to cause you harm.
5. Broke into your car.
6. Attempted to harm you.
7. Physically harmed you.
8. Attempted to break into your home.
9. Physically harmed himself.
10. Stole/read your mail.
11. Damaged the property of your new partner.
12. Threatened to harm himself.
13. Made calls to you at your home when you didn’t want him to.
14. Came to your home when you didn’t want him to.
15. Followed you.
16. Made hang-up telephone calls.
17. Sent you unwanted gifts.
18. Made calls to you at work when you didn’t want him to.
19. Watched you.
20. Came to your workplace/school when you didn’t want him to.
21. Left messages on your answering machine‚ voice mail‚ or e-mail.
22. Sent photographs when you didn’t want him to.
23. Made threats to your new partner.
24. Sent letters to you when you didn’t want him to.
25. Harmed your new partner.