The Dark Side of Relationship Pursuit provides historical and definitional frames for studying unwanted relationship pursuit, and considers the role of the media, law, and social science research in shaping today's conceptualizations of stalking. The volume integrates research from diverse contributing fields and disciplines, providing a thorough summary and assessment of current knowledge on stalking and obsessive pursuit.

Building on the foundation of the award-winning first edition, this revision considers assessment issues, offers an expanded analysis of the meta-analysis data set, and includes coverage of intercultural and international factors. As an increasing number of scholarly disciplines and professional fields study stalking and other forms of obsessive relationship pursuit, this book is a must-have resource for examining interpersonal conflict, social and personal relationships, domestic violence, unrequited love, divorce and relational dissolution, and harassment. It also has much to offer researchers, counselors, and professionals in psychology, counseling, criminal justice, sociology, psychiatry, forensic evaluation, threat assessment, and law enforcement.

Brian H. Spitzberg is Senate Distinguished Professor in the School of Communication at San Diego State University. His primary areas of research involve interpersonal communication skills, jealousy, conflict, coercion, violence, and stalking.

William R. Cupach is Professor Emeritus in the School of Communication at Illinois State University. His research pertains to problematic interactions in interpersonal relationships, including such contexts as embarrassing predicaments, relational transgressions, interpersonal conflict, social and relational aggression, obsessive relational pursuit, and stalking.

Chapter 1: The Evolution of Relationship Intimacy and Intrusion Chapter 2: The Pursuit of Ordinary Relationships Chapter 3: The Demography and Prevalence of Stalking Chapter 4: The Topography of Stalking and Unwanted Pursuit Chapter 5: Explaining Unwanted Pursuit Chapter 6: The Effects of Stalking and Unwanted Pursuit Chapter 7: Managing Unwanted Pursuit: Mapping Risk Management Chapter 8: Assessing Unwanted Pursuit and Stalking