Victim Blaming and Empathy

Victim blaming is an unfortunate, yet common reaction to hearing about terrible crimes or events. It is also a tactic some abusers use to isolate their victims and keep them feeling trapped and powerless, and it can contribute to feelings of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and suicidal thoughts in survivors. It can also make victims scared to come forward, as they fear their family, friends, or community may blame them. Victim blaming can also deprive victims of the empathy and support they deserve.

The main reason for victim blaming is that people find it difficult to believe that bad things can happen to good people. This can lead them to try and explain these events away with faulty attributions such as thinking the perpetrator was wrongly punished or that the victim brought it on herself. It is particularly damaging when these reactions are directed toward victims of sexual assault, as they can cause them to feel disempowered, isolated, and helpless.

Research has shown that empathy can be a key factor in reducing victim blaming. One study, for example, asked participants to watch a video of an innocent woman apparently receiving electric shocks for making mistakes on a task. The participants that were just told to watch the woman tended to derogate her, but those who were prompted to empathize with her did not. This is likely because those who were empathetic with the victim could not bring themselves to blame her, even though they believed that she was probably to blame for the misfortune she had experienced.

Another study, this time using vignettes about male and female sexual assaults, replicated and extended previous findings. The results showed that the subject’s gender was a significant predictor of their level of victim blaming. However, a mediation analysis showed that this effect was partially mediated by the degree to which the subject identified with the victim. This indicates that although the subjects’ gender is a risk factor for victim blaming, other factors like acceptance of rape myths and attitudes toward traditional role models might be more important to consider when considering this phenomenon.

It is clear that there are many different reasons for victim blaming, but it is important to recognize that these are often driven by unconscious biases and beliefs. It can be helpful to educate individuals about the effects of a victim blaming culture, and to encourage individuals to think more deeply when it comes to judging others. Educating on the effects of victim blaming can help individuals avoid these behaviors and increase their understanding of why they may have negative reactions towards victims. This can be especially important for individuals who work with victims of trauma, such as in medical, psychotherapeutic, or legal institutions. This is because it is important for these professionals to not only be aware of the impact that victim blaming can have on their clients, but also to educate themselves on how to best help these victims and survivors.