ExaminingtheAuthenticityofStalkingPortrayalinNetflix's_You

Attention: The following analysis contains substantial spoilers pertaining to the initial three seasons of the widely acclaimed Netflix drama, You.

You has captivated audiences with its intriguing protagonist, Joe Goldberg, masterfully portrayed by Penn Badgley. A disconcerting stalker fiercely dedicated to the quest for love, Joe's character elicits the question of authenticity: to what extent does the series accurately depict the grim reality of stalking?

To evaluate the accuracy of You's portrayal of stalking behavior, we must seek insight from experts in the domain. Dr. Susan Hatters-Friedman, a respected Professor of Forensic Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University, asserts that Joe's actions mirror various categories outlined in Mullen and colleagues' stalker typology, a well-established classification system in stalking research.

Accurate Elements of Stalking Portrayal

• Repetitive Behavioral Patterns: Joe incessantly engages in recurrent behaviors towards his love interests. He meticulously tracks their movements, manipulates them, and artfully infiltrates their lives, meticulously cultivating an image of himself as the ideal partner based on his astute observations.

• Intimacy-Seeking Stalker: Joe's persistent pursuit of his objects of affection aligns with the definition of an intimacy-seeking stalker, as he desperately craves a relationship with them.

• Rejected, Resentful, and Predatory Elements: When Beck and Marienne reject Joe's advances, he behaves in a manner typical of a rejected stalker. He harbors resentment when he encounters obstacles, such as Beck's companion Peach and Love's spouse Henderson. His violent actions towards characters like Benji and Ryan further categorize him as a predatory stalker.

• Personality Disorders: According to Dr. Hatters-Friedman, Joe exhibits "psychopathic tendencies and narcissistic traits." Additionally, Dr. Avee Lev, a cognitive behavioral therapist, explicitly diagnoses him with covert narcissism.

Unrealistic Elements of Stalking Portrayal

• Empathy and Remorse: The third season of You depicts Joe as capable of experiencing empathy and remorse towards his victims, particularly his son. However, Dr. Lev emphasizes that individuals with covert narcissism, like Joe, typically lack these emotions.

• Hope for Redemption: The series propagates the notion that Joe can change and find redemption through love, a misconception in the case of covert narcissists.

• Romanticization of Joe: Some fans' fascination with Joe is disconcerting, as it downplays the dangerous and manipulative aspects of his character.

Upon careful analysis, it becomes evident that while You effectively captures many aspects of stalking and its underlying psychology, its depiction of Joe's potential for redemption is both unrealistic and potentially detrimental.