December 16, 2020
What Makes Someone Predisposed to Stalking and the Shifting Threat Landscape
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In this episode
In this episode, Fred Burton speaks with Dr. Reid Meloy, renowned forensic psychologist and co-founder of WAVR-21, about the psychology behind fixation and stalking. They explore what drives individuals to obsess over public figures, executives, and celebrities—and how those behaviors can escalate to violence. Dr. Meloy reflects on his shift from litigation to prevention, sharing how technology is both a challenge and a tool in identifying early warning signs in today’s digital and physical environments.
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Learn more about Dr. Meloy, visit his website here
- View his book Stalking, Threatening and Attacking Public Figures
- View his most recent book International Handbook of Threat Assessment
- Learn about WAVR-21
Listen
What Makes Someone Predisposed to Stalking and the Shifting Threat Landscape
What you’ll learn
01
What psychological factors contribute to obsessive fixation and stalking behavior
02
How to detect pre-incident indicators before a threat escalates to violence
03
The evolving role of technology in identifying and managing potential threats
More about our guest
Dr. Reid Meloy is a board-certified forensic psychologist and clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. He is an internationally recognized expert in threat assessment, with over 25 years of research and writing on psychopathy, personality disorders, stalking, and targeted violence. Dr. Meloy has authored or edited 11 books and published more than 200 scholarly papers. He consults with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Units and advises multiple organizations across the U.S. and Europe, including the U.K. Home Office. He is also the co-creator of the WAVR-21, a structured professional judgment tool for workplace violence risk assessment.
