VICTIM BLAIMING AS A SOCIAL PROBLEM

Abstract

The article characterizes victim blaming as a social phenomenon and a social problem. Victimblaming is an act of devaluation that occurs when the victim of a crime is liable – in whole or in part – for the crime committed against him/her. This guilt can manifest itself in the form of a negative social reaction from professionals (lawyers, doctors, social workers, psychologists), the media, relatives, acquaintances. The evolution of victim blaming research in different branches of science is traced. The main causes of victim blaming are characterized (patriarchal customs, tolerance of certain types of violence, belief in a fair world, imperfection of the justice system, attribution errors, invulnerability theory, formed social stereotypes about the image of the victim). The main definitions that correlate with victim blaming are characterized. It is noted that victim blaming can occur in all spheres of public life and take the form of domestic, unconscious, or mass and purposeful behavior. Victimblaming as a form of violence can take various forms – both psychological and physical, although usually victims of crime are subjected to psychological pressure in the form of humiliation, insult or devaluation. Gender is a social characteristic that increases the risk of being accused, so several categories of female victims are most often victimized: rape victims, victims of sexual harassment, and sex workers. The social consequences of victimization are outlined for victims who are less likely to report future violence in an attempt to avoid secondary victimization due to a lack of social support and social empathy. It is noted that victim blaming as a social problem causes a whole range of social problems: it destroys the security atmosphere, contributes to the normalization of violence in the mass consciousness and complicates the process of providing social and psychological assistance to its victims.