Victim Blaming

Victim blaming can be an unconscious and visceral reaction, triggered by the human drive for self-preservation. It’s a natural reaction to bad news, but it can also be dangerous because it can silence victims of traumatic experiences, making them less likely to seek help or report their experiences to authorities. It can even make it harder for victims to overcome their traumatic experience, or to move on with their lives after an assault or other crime.

In a victim-blaming situation, people may assume that if someone bad happens to a friend or family member, that person must have done something to deserve it or to cause the event themselves. Victim blaming can also be a way for people to avoid coping with difficult emotions, as it helps them distance themselves from the situation by placing the blame elsewhere.

The type of people that victim-blame varies widely, from those who have a direct vested interest in doing so (e.g., the rapist or their lawyer) to those who simply don’t have anything to gain from it but still engage in it (e.g., friends and family). Those who don’t have any vested interest can do more harm than good by victim-blaming because they can cause victims to feel isolated and like no one cares about them.

Another factor that affects victim-blaming is a person’s moral values and how they differ from those of others. Those who are more inclined to exhibit what’s known as “binding” values, which prioritize protecting the interests of the group as a whole over individuals, are more likely to engage in victim-blaming. On the other hand, those who have more “individual” moral values, which are focused on fairness and preventing harm to individual people, are more sympathetic to victims.

How relevant a situation is to an individual can also play a role in victim-blaming. The more similar a situation is to an individual, the less likely they are to engage in it (Gray, Palileo and Johnson, 1993).

While it’s hard to understand why some people victim-blame, it’s important to recognize that doing so can have negative consequences for both the perpetrator and the victim. It can silence victims and make them less willing to seek help or report the incident to police, which can lead to an increased risk of future violence for all.

Fortunately, victim-blaming can be reversed with empathy training and a willingness to see things from other perspectives. Those who are willing to do this can help themselves and those around them be more understanding of the complex causes of victim-blaming and its harmful effects. They can learn to be more aware of when they’re victim-blaming and stop it from happening, especially if the person is trying to stifle discussion about a traumatic experience or is making a victim feel isolated or unsupported in their recovery process. Ultimately, the best way to stop victim-blaming is to stop it from ever happening in the first place.