'You': A criminologist explains Joe Goldberg’s ‘erotomaniac delusions’ in Netflix stalker drama

Despite its unusual choice of protagonist – obsessive stalker and serial killer Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) – Netflix’s You is entering its fourth season, with audiences around the world streaming the many crimes he commits in the name of “love”.

Goldberg’s narration (spoken directly to “you”, the changing subjects of his obsessions) draws viewers in with his backstory and attempt to use logic to explain his behaviour. His ability to manipulate situations to get the attention of his romantic crushes suggests that with strong belief and dedication to the pursuit of “the one”, we all can make others fall in love with us. As an academic who researches stalking, I think this message is dangerous.

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Persistent unwanted contact from a potential or past suitor is not romantic. It is scary, it is uncomfortable, it is stalking.

Though You is fictional (based on the novels of Caroline Kepnes), it depicts realistic characters and stalking behaviour. For example, Goldberg uses “neutralisation” (the internal justification used by a person to defend actions deemed wrong by society) to rationalise his violent decisions.

A study in 1957 found that delinquent youngsters justified their behaviour through techniques of neutralisation, while stressing they were fully aware that their activities were illegitimate. Research into cyberstalking and harassment mirrors these findings.

Goldberg’s appeal is that he is aware of his actions but explains his logic in a way that is understandable to an emotional audience, who can relate to feelings of infatuation. This is concerning if some viewers start to mimic these sentiments and act on their emotions as the character they’re watching does.

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Goldberg is an exaggerated version of the romantic hero, who wants to court the heroine and live happily ever after. His obsession with locking down “the one” reinforces a fantasy myth that has been told for decades. Considering the extensive popularity of the series, I’m concerned by the glamourisation of stalking and disregard of the criminal nature of Goldberg’s coercive tactics.

What kind of stalker is Joe Goldberg?

Developed by experts in the field, The Stalking Risk Profile gives professionals structured guidelines to assist them in making informed decisions about the risk and treatment of stalking perpetrators.

The set of categories considers the context and motivations for stalking behaviour, as well as its function. Goldberg exhibits traits of an “intimacy seeker” according to the stalking categories, but as You progresses, he fluctuates between the identities of a “rejected” and “resentful” stalker who feels wronged by others or wants to reconcile with his partner.

Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg in Series 4 of 'You', set in London. Image: Courtesy of Netflix

Victoria Pedretti as Joe’s former love interest, Love Quinn in You. Image: John P Flexor / Netflix

Goldberg details obsessions with Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail, Series 1), Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti, Series 2 and 3) and Marienne Bellamy (Tati Gabrielle, Series 3 and 4), believing each time that they are his romantic soulmate. He researches his romantic interests extensively – mainly through social media – and creates a projection of their character. This trend is common among the young audience the series is catered towards.

The behaviour of “intimacy seeking” stalkers is frequently motivated by a serious mental health condition, that involves mistaken ideas about the victim, such as the belief that the two of them are already in a relationship when they aren’t (known as erotomaniac delusions). Creating an emotional bond and an intimate relationship is the motivation for intimacy-seeking stalkers, and Goldberg’s character portrays this effectively.

How realistic is the stalking in You?

Goldberg’s infatuations start from this “intimacy seeker” standpoint. But when he manages to secure a relationship with his interests, his paranoia leads him down a path of violence towards anyone who threatens the potential union.

This happens in the form of the stalking, kidnapping and murder of his partner’s friends, former partners and eventually the romantic interest themselves. Goldberg’s motives to stalk continually change, but he constantly relies on his expertise to monitor his victims’ social media and track them down.

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He convinces the audience that he simply cannot help himself, though he tries many times to stop his obsessive thought and stalking fixations. But this is where the realism of You fades away. The violent path that Joe goes down is less common among real life “intimacy seeking” stalkers. But hopefully, it brings the audience to the realisation that his thought process is chauvinistic, abnormal and that his stalking behaviour is used as a means to commit extreme violence and murder.

As each series of You comes to a close, it becomes apparent that this “average Joe” who spends most of his time obsessing over a romantic muse and manipulates every situation to attain “love”, can never live happily ever after. DM/ML 

This story was first published in The Conversation.

Kritika Jerath is an Assistant Professor in Criminology at the University of Nottingham.