If you want to go the "thought cycles" route, then you can add that usually housewives take care of the annoying part about cooking, cleaning, utilities...

I mean, many stalkers want traditional wives and had those kinds of expectations. That a woman takes care of all the boring stuff for them.

And you are right, in their minds, they have done a lot of effort "for you" and that makes them think that "you owe" them. They don't see you as people with your own wants and needs. Just support for their own lives.