However, significant percentages had never met their victims, or were acquaintances, neighbors, friends or co-workers. Stalking is not new. What is new is that, until recently it was not seen as a distinctly separate crime. Previously, stalking was referred to as harassment, annoyance or, in some cases, simply as domestic violence. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, numerous high-profile cases involving celebrities began to catch the attention of the media.
Stalkers tend to fall into two distinct categories.
Simple obsession stalkers are distinguished by the fact that a personal or romantic relationship existed between the stalker and the victim before the stalking behavior began. Simple Obsession Stalkers represent the second category and comprise 70 -80 percent of all stalking cases. While this kind of stalker may or may not have psychological disorders, all clearly have personality disorders. The Love obsession stalkers fixates on a casual acquaintance or a person unknown to the perpetrator. This type of stalker is often seen when celebrities are stalking victims.