14 - The Psychology of Victimization

We all face the possibility of becoming victims of some type of crime. A great deal of time is devoted to studying criminals. What is the personal, emotional impact of becoming a victim?

People who have been victims of crime (or in the case of murder, the surviving relatives) commonly make victim impact statements to the court during the trial of the offender. A victim impact statement is simply a paragraph or two about how the victims have been personally affected by the crime. It is saying, “Yesterday, I was a normal member of society. Because of the crime, my life has changed in the following way....” It is important for victims to be heard and to know that they have had the opportunity to “have their say” in public. They are the innocent victims, and in many cases their lives have been irrevocably altered by crime. Simply making a statement cannot undo the terrible damage that has been done to these victims. However, in the process of voicing their hurt, victims experience healing. Their faith in the process of justice is restored somewhat.

The feelings experienced by the victim of a crime cover a broad range of reactions depending on the serious nature of the crime and whether the perpetrator of the criminal act was known to the victim was a stranger. Victim trauma syndrome is the intense reaction resulting from the abuse a person suffers during a crime. Many people report they feel “violated” in some way. They feel singled out, punished, isolated, unclean, and damaged either physically or psychologically. The question that keeps coming to their minds is, “Why me?” An overwhelming sense of fear and insecurity may develop and often lead to nightmares. A person may experience fatigue, disturbances in sleep patterns, tension headaches, intense guilt, and self-blame. Accompanying those ailments are an overpowering fear of physical violence and death. When the justice system gives victims opportunity to speak in court, victims regain a little sense of power and control in their lives that was taken away when the crime was committed.