An action or statement does not have to be repeated over a long period of time to be defined as harassment. A single statement or action may constitute harassment. Even behaviour which is not meant to cause offence or distress may do so. It is the impact of the words or action, not the underlying intent which is important. Health, physical characteristics, personal beliefs and numerous other factors may lead to harassment.
Harassment can occur between people of the opposite sex or between people of the same sex.
Differences of culture, language and attitude, or misinterpretation of social signals may mean that what is perceived as offensive behaviour or language by one person may not seem so to another. It is difficult to categorise all forms of harassment, but examples of some more easily recognisable forms of harassment are listed below.