How to Counteract Victim Blaming

Victim blaming is a common reaction to crime, but it can have devastating effects on survivors. It often takes many forms, from overt criticisms to subtler insinuations. It can be about things like what the victim was wearing or doing when they were attacked or how they could have prevented it (e.g., if they had just been more careful). It can also be about why the crime happened and how the perpetrator was justified in doing it.

Regardless of how it is expressed, victim blaming tells victims that their abuser or trauma was not really their fault. It reinforces that they should not speak up or seek help, and it can be especially damaging in cases of sexual assault or rape. Victim blaming increases the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and suicidal ideation in survivors (GoodRx).

When people blame victims they are not necessarily saying that the crime was entirely their fault, but rather they think the victim could have prevented it by taking more control over their circumstances. It is a common human tendency to assume that what happens to one person should not happen to another (Fundamental Attribution Error). It can be particularly difficult for people who have a strong moral code to believe that the world is generally fair and that bad things shouldn’t just happen to good people.

Research shows that the way a person is likely to engage in victim blaming depends on their moral values, their sense of obligation to others, and how relevant an event is to them. For instance, someone who has a stronger sense of binding values is more likely to be a victim blamer and will feel more inclined to criticise the actions of a friend who was raped or murdered because of their choice to be out alone late at night.

It is also important to note that a person’s culture plays a role in their level of victim blaming. For example, research has shown that South Africans are more likely to victim blame than Australians, Japanese are more than American citizens, and white Americans more so than Hispanic Americans (Ward, 1995).

What can I do to counteract victim blaming?

There are several ways to counteract victim blaming. The first step is to educate yourself about the harms of victim blaming, so you can challenge it when you hear it. It is also important to listen with empathy to any survivor who shares their experience and don’t pry for more details than they want to share or ask them why they didn’t do something differently. Also, if you know the survivor, consistently reassure them that what they went through was not their fault.

Finally, it is vital to hold perpetrators accountable when they try to rationalise their actions or explain away the harm they caused. When you hear them blaming the victim, alcohol, or circumstances for their behaviour, remind them that they alone decided to assault or rape their partner and should be held responsible.