"The 'Stalking the Soul' by Marie-France Hirigoyen was first published in France in 1998 and is now translated into 16 languages. This book is considered the equivalent of 'Emotional Intelligence' for the study of violence. Are you one of those who endure the outbursts of a permanently offensive or moody employer? Do you constantly become the target of derogatory comments and contempt from your partner? It is possible that you are a victim of a hidden war between the aggressor and the victim, with the aim of the latter's psychological annihilation. But why? Because the aggressor can only exist in a relationship if the other is nullified. The victims, on the other hand, in such a situation, do not admit what is happening in most cases. 

It is such a dense and dark grid that it is very difficult for anyone, from both sides, to realize the criticality of the problem. Marie-France Hirigoyen, a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and psychotherapist with extensive clinical experience, analyzes with simplicity, clarity, and liveliness a social problem that, although widely prevalent, is little known: it is the attempt of psychological annihilation of the other through words, gestures, and innuendos, without the use of physical violence. 

This phenomenon is called perverse violence or moral harassment. The main characteristic of perverse violence is that it acts camouflaged. This action must be revealed so that the victim can perceive what is really happening. In this book with numerous testimonies, the author analyzes the peculiarity of the perverse relationship and reveals all its aspects, showing that the humiliating process is the same whether it is a couple, a family, or a business. M.-F. Hirigoyen stands by the victims of moral harassment and undertakes to awaken their environment and guide those who wish to help them. Her help to the victims is important: it helps them escape the influence of their oppressor and avoid depression, even psychological death. 

The issue of moral harassment has not yet been adequately explored. Therefore, this book is of great interest and serves as a practical guide for both the victims and those who wish to help them, as well as for the experts, to whom it proposes a new approach. Furthermore, thanks to its clarity and liveliness, it will arouse the interest of all those who do not intend to remain indifferent to this serious social problem."