Victim Blaming

When a crime or trauma happens, people often respond to victims in ways that are harmful. One of the most common forms of victim blaming is placing responsibility for an incident on the victim rather than the perpetrator, such as saying “she was asking for it” or “boys will be boys.” Victim blaming can prevent survivors from reporting abuse and seeking help because they fear being blamed or stigmatized.

Even the most well-intentioned people contribute to victim blaming by failing to challenge harmful beliefs about what causes abuse and what it means for victims. For example, therapists who work in prevention programs may recommend that women wear brightly colored clothing, avoid certain places, or avoid interacting with certain people because they believe these things will help them prevent assault or other harms. While these suggestions are meant to protect the well-being of women, they actually reinforce a myth that women can control their vulnerability by taking steps they think will keep them safe.

Victim blaming can also take place in everyday interactions, such as when family members or friends refuse to believe a survivor’s story or insist that they must have done something to deserve what happened to them. These reactions are typically motivated by a desire to believe that the world is fair and that victims get what they deserve, which is known as the just-world phenomenon. Some people may also project their uncomfortable feelings onto others as a way to cope with those feelings, such as by saying things like, “It’s her fault for being so trusting” or, “He only hit her because he’s off his meds.”

In addition, victim blaming is often driven by the desire to disown accountability. For instance, some people may rationalize abusive behavior by arguing that the victim deserved it because of their actions or inactions, such as by saying, “She should have run away.” This is called vicarious scapegoating and can lead to increased shame and toxic self-blame for victims.

Survivors of abuse are already dealing with high financial and emotional costs, but victim blaming can discourage them from seeking help for fear that they will be blamed or judged further. For example, some survivors may avoid telling their story because they don’t want to be made to feel guilty for being hurt or for having been taken advantage of, or they may not seek services that can help them heal because they don’t believe they will be believed.

To improve our culture, we must recognize and address victim blaming. This is the first step in preventing it from perpetuating. We can support survivors by believing their stories, listening to them without judgment, and directing them toward safe sources of help. It’s also important to understand how victim blaming works and why it is so harmful, as this will help us identify and challenge negative thoughts about crime and trauma victims. Ana Gascon is a versatile health and medical content creator with over 15 years of writing experience, including 8 years in healthcare. She has written about acute conditions, chronic diseases, mental health challenges, and more.