Definitions of harassment There are many great definitions of harassment, and many people have their own ideas on what harassment is and what harassment does. To understand the issue at hand it is first necessary to define what harassment is, because only then can we begin to quantify it when we encounter it, and remedy it when we find the symptoms to be present. Below are some of the more conventional definitions of harassment. I found these two definitions to be well put together, and they convey what people most commonly view harassment to be. Words, conduct or action, usually repeated or persistent that, being directed at a specific person, annoys, alarms, or causes substantial emotional distress in that person and serves no purpose.  (7) Any form of unwanted, deliberate or offensive behaviour, violent or psychological, that has been requested to be stopped.  (8) After reading about harassment, I found the definitions though adequate, did not really begin to describe or convey for me the deep devastating emotional impact that six years of harassment had on me, my system, or my state of being. This is one of my personal definitions of harassment. Harassment is any deplorable words, actions, or behaviors, where the solitary goal is to demoralize, intimidate, or ruin an individuals self esteem and self identity. Harassment is an internalised event, caused by external factors, which wounds the identity and pride of an individual. Where rape is primarily understood to be a physical assault, harassment is often an emotional, and psychological assault on ones being. Harassment degrades and humiliates it's victims. Harassment is used to subjugate, and destroy an individuals self esteem and self worth. I also found the below definitions of disease useful, because I think that harassment should be classified as a disease. 1. A pathological condition of a part, organ, or system of an organism resulting from various causes, such as infection, genetic defect, or environmental stress, and characterized by an identifiable group of signs or symptoms. 2. A condition or tendency, as of society, regarded as abnormal and harmful.  (9) This is my second personal definition of harassment. Harassment is a disease that can strike suddenly and unexpectedly, or can be a slow and gradual degeneration of being. It's a malady that can have a deep emotional and psychological effects on an individual. It is often characterised by unwanted repeated and undaunting exposure to debilitators such as, harmful words, deeds or behaviours. If left unchecked and untreated harassment is a illness that can also have deep physiological effects on a person. Harassment can be a moderate to fully debilitating ailment, that if left to continue can cause (suicide) death.