Victim Blaming

Victim blaming is a toxic response that can deprive victims of the empathy and support they need. It can make it difficult for survivors to report a crime or seek help, and it can also increase their feelings of shame and guilt. This is because victim blaming is often based on false or misinformed assumptions and beliefs.

People who blame victims are usually operating on the assumption that the world is fair and that bad things don’t happen to good people, or at least, not to them. They’re also likely to believe that a person who has been harmed must have done something to deserve it, or at least, should have done more to avoid it. This belief is rooted in the same type of moral values that influence people to choose one way or another when faced with difficult decisions, such as whether it is right to steal from someone else.

A classic example of this is the experiment where participants were asked to watch a woman receive painful electric shocks, even though she was an actress and not actually being shocked. The researchers then surveyed the participants and found that those who were more inclined to have individual values were more sympathetic towards the victim, while those with binding values (that is, those who were more concerned about protecting the group as a whole) were more likely to view the victim as blameworthy.

These types of attitudes are common, and they may also be influenced by culture, age, gender stereotypes, education level and other factors. Ultimately, however, it is a person’s belief that they are in control of their own destiny that will determine how they react to someone who has been hurt.

Some people use victim blaming as a coping strategy to deal with uncomfortable emotions, such as anger or fear. They may feel the need to explain their discomfort away and project it onto a victim in order to maintain their sense of control. Others have a low ability to empathise with others and may therefore find it difficult to feel compassion for victims of sexual violence, regardless of how much evidence there is to suggest that perpetrators are responsible.

Sadly, it is not uncommon for abuse victims to be blamed by friends, family and the media, which can have a detrimental impact on their emotional wellbeing. Some victims have reported feeling discouraged from reporting a crime or seeking help for fear that they will be blamed for their actions, and this can lead to post-traumatic stress, depression and health issues.

It is important that we recognise the harm of victim blaming, and take steps to stop it. When a friend or colleague confides in you about being a victim, do your best to understand their situation, and remind them that it is never their fault.

It is also vital that we encourage people to challenge victim blaming when they see it, as this can have a positive effect on the healing process for many victims. The first person a victim confides in can have a significant impact on their decision to speak up and seek help, so the words you say can have a long-lasting impact.