Victim Blaming

Victim blaming is the term used to describe any behaviour or language that implies, either directly or indirectly, that a person’s victimisation was partially or fully their fault. It can also make them feel shame and guilt over their experience, which is damaging to their emotional and mental wellbeing. Victim blaming can happen in a wide range of situations, from a rape to being pickpocketed or even robbed at home. It is a common phenomenon across all cultures, but can be particularly prevalent in countries where there is a high level of patriotic attachment or a personal investment in an institution, such as a university.

The victims of abuse and assault are often blamed for their own experiences, which can have a profoundly negative impact on survivors’ ability to recover from trauma. It can cause them to isolate, leading to long-term psychological and physical effects. It can also deprive victims of the support they need to heal. It is important to understand why it happens, and how to challenge victim blaming when you encounter it, to ensure that those affected can receive the validation and care they deserve.

Survivors of sexual violence and assault often find themselves victim blamed by those closest to them, which can be particularly distressing. This can be in the form of questioning why they did not fight back, or suggestions that they were too trusting of strangers. It can also include the erroneous belief that they should report the crime immediately, without acknowledging that this can be very difficult for people who have been traumatised and may need time to process their experience before coming forward.

Research suggests that the tendency to victim blame is partly down to an unconscious set of moral values, which is influenced by gender, sexuality and power dynamics. For example, women are more likely to be victim blamed for their behaviour than men, and young people are more likely to do so than older people. This is due to a societal assumption that women are passive and men are aggressive, which can have an effect on the way in which victims are perceived.

Victim blaming can be influenced by the cultural phenomenon of Schadenfreude, which is the pleasure that is taken in another person’s suffering. This can be particularly true when that other person is someone we see as a rival or somebody who has achieved more than us. It is also linked to the concept of “positive assumptive worldview,” which posits that most people believe the world to be a positive place, and that bad things only happen to those who make poor decisions.

The most direct way to combat victim blaming is for people not to engage in it at all. However, this is not always possible, especially if you work with victims of abuse and assault who come into contact with those who victim blame them. Guidance for professionals is available, and a public awareness campaign can help to raise awareness of the issue.