CRIMINOLOGY. Victimology Effects of Crime on Victims (Including PTSD, Resilience, Post Traumatic, Growth and Anger) and the Ways Victims are viewed

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "CRIMINOLOGY. Victimology Effects of Crime on Victims (Including PTSD, Resilience, Post Traumatic, Growth and Anger) and the Ways Victims are viewed"

MargaretMargaret Phillips
5 years ago
Views:

1 CRIMINOLOGY Victimology Effects of Crime on Victims (Including PTSD, Resilience, Post Traumatic, Growth and Anger) and the Ways Victims are viewed 1

2 MODULE 14 : EFFECTS OF CRIME ON VICTIMS (INCLUDING PTSD, RESILIENCE, POST TRAUMATIC, GROWTH AND ANGER) AND THE WAYS VICTIMS ARE VIEWED Component - I - Personal Details Role Name Affiliation Principal Investigator Prof(Dr) G S Bajpai Registrar National Law University Delhi Paper Coordinator Prof(Dr) G S Bajpai Registrar National Law University Delhi Content Writer/Author(s) 1. Prof(Dr) K. Jaishankar 2. Rashmi Choudhury 1. Professor & Head, 2. Trained Criminologist, Department of Criminology, Raksha Shakti University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Content Reviewer Prof(Dr) G S Bajpai Registrar National Law University Delhi Component - I (B) Description of Module Description of Module Subject Name Criminology Paper Name Victimology Module No. 14 Module Name/Title Effects of Crime on Victims (Including PTSD, Resilience, Post Traumatic, Growth and Anger) and the Ways Victims are viewed Pre-requisites Victimization, psychological trauma, victim blaming Objectives To gain a better understanding into the numerous ways in which an individual can be affected as a victim of crime. To provide information on some specific mental health issues that can have both short-term and long-term effects on the victims of crime such as PTSD, Resilience, Growth and Anger. To look into the ways crime victims are viewed in the broader society. Keywords Criminal Victimization, PTSD, Resilience, Growth and Anger, Victim Blaming 2

3 Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. The Cost of Crime on Victims 3. Secondary Victimization 4. The Way Victims are viewed 5. Summary and Conclusion Learning Outcomes After the completion of this module, you will be able: To understand The Impact of Crime on Victims. To outline Some of the Key Effects of Crime on Victims. To understand the way Victims are viewed in the Society. To examine the Importance of Effects of Crime on Victims. 3

4 Effects of Crime on Victims (Including PTSD, Resilience, Post Traumatic, Growth and Anger) and the Ways Victims are viewed 1. Introduction Criminal Victimization can have difficult, overwhelming and serious implications on the victims. Victims are often confused and have a sense of fear and do not know who to go for support in the aftermath of crime. Victims suffer physically, financially, emotionally and psychologically due to the crime that happened. These effects can be short-term or long-term and maybe difficult to overcome. The degree of the impact that crime has on an individual victim varies. For example, emotional effects on victims of violence would be greater than someone who has been victim of burglary or experienced vehicular theft. The two most common emotional responses to crime are anger and shock. These are the initial responses of the victim which can eventually turn into other emotions such as a sense of fear, feelings of helplessness and frustration (Daigle, 2011). 2. The Cost of Crime on Victims Crime has direct and indirect effects on its victims and the broader society in general. The interest in the effects of crime on victims started in the 1970s-80s which eventually led to the adoption of victimization surveys in the U.S. (the National Crime Survey) which was the first country to use it nationally. Gradually these victimization surveys (now called Crime Surveys) shifted its focus on the experience of victimization itself. This shift in focus was the best way to look into the effects of victimization and how victimization might be prevented. Crime takes numerous tolls on victims, with effects ranging from physical injury to psychological trauma to risk of additional victimization. Clearly, when people suffer victimization, they are subjected to various risks which can be long-lasting or permanent. The most common effects are pain, suffering and fear endured by the crime victims. Effects of crime are multiple and hence understanding each one of them will help us estimate the cost of crime on victims both in the short and in the long run. A wide range of physical, mental, psychological, social and financial issues affect an individual victim depending on the nature of crime that occurred. These issues can lead to more deep and profound impact on the victims in the later stages of their lives (Shapland, 2007). 4

5 Direct effects of victimization include the following: 1. A sense of shock and losing trust in the society for having been the victim in a social setting, 2. A sense of fear at having to become a victim of crime, 3. Minor or severe form of physical injury at the cost of the crime that happened, 4. Financial loss in the form of property damaged or goods stolen, taking time off from work, loss of earnings, spending money on medical attention required due to the crime or upon the activities of the criminal justice system ( travel costs to the courts to make the statements, etc) 5. There may be both short-term and long-term psychological effects of crime such as fear, anger, depression etc. 6. Social effects can also be short-term and long-term. These would involve impacting the victim s lifestyle so as to avoid being a victim again. Indirect Victimization is borne in by the individual victim s families, friends and colleagues. Relatives and friends can also be affected by the victim as they may be more worried about the victim s safety and also eventually start feeling more vulnerable themselves. Victimization can lead to psychological consequences such as depression, anxiety or PTSD and physical consequences such as brain damage that can later impede functioning in one s life. Cognitive ability may also be hampered. Victims can also show behavioural changes such as become violent or aggressive which can hinder their inter-personal relationships. We will now dwell deeper into some of the key effects of crime on victims in the following section Physical Injury The most common consequence of any criminal act is physical injury to the victim. These may range from minor injuries such as bruises, bumps and scratches to major injuries such as cuts on the body, broken bones, stabbing wounds or even brain damage. These physical consequences can have both mild and severe implications on the individual victim. Because of the injuries, the victim may not be able to effectively participate in day-to-day activities. The victim may experience headaches, lethargy or feel nauseous because of the injuries. As a result of severe injuries, victim s brain functioning can be affected which could eventually lead to distortion or depletion in memory, thinking and other cognitive abilities. 5

6 These injuries can also turn into ongoing health problems which may also lead to feelings of anger and bitterness for the victim Financial Costs The financial costs incurred by the victim as a result of the crime that occurred include the economic costs that the victim had to sustain such as property losses or any goods damaged, medical costs in order to get medical care because of the physical injuries, participating in the criminal justice system which involves 6raveling costs to the court, etc. Victims of crime often experience such tangible losses. For a victim of low socio-economic background, incurring all these expenses can place a huge financial burden on them. The financial consequences may have to be endured for a longer time for the victim. Emotional/Psychological Impact Financial Impact Shock Medical bills Terror Loss of property Fear Loss of job Anger Helplessness Confusion Grief Depression Sorrow Guilt Self-blame Panic symptoms Physical Impact Social Impact Physical injuries such as bruises, Changes in lifestyle gunshot wounds etc. Increased fear of crime Permanent brain damage Negative impact on the overall Loss of appetite quality of life Inability to work 6

7 2.3. Pain, Suffering and a Sense of Fear There are some intangible costs that victims have to experience as a result of the crime. These are hard to measure such as the amount of pain, suffering and a decline in the quality of life. There is a sense of fear among the victims because they are worried of being victimized again. They also lose trust or faith in the society because they became a victim in a social setting. As a result of which there is fear of personal safety and well-being. Victim s perception of risk is also increased. Victims can also experience feelings of helplessness which can eventually lead to low self-esteem. These consequences have far more overpowering impact on the victim than the out-of-pocket expenses that the victim had to undergo as a result of the crime Psychological impact (Including PTSD, Growth, Anger and Resilience) Being a victim of crime can have serious impact on the mental health of an individual victim. The mental health effects of victimization include feelings of anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder and a decreased social functioning. These psychological consequences can be long-term and maybe difficult for the victim to overcome. Feelings of depression can include symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, loss of interests in activities that was once enjoyed and a depressed mood. Because of depression, the victim may also show signs of reduced social networking. This can further lead to low self-esteem and low self-worth. Victims can also feel anger towards the offender, the criminal justice system or even to themselves. This may be as a result of becoming a victim or a target in the first place. Anger could also lead to frustration if necessary support and justice is not served to the victim. These strong emotions could pose as a challenge for the victim to overcome. Anxiety is another consequence linked to victimization. These include a range of physical-emotional symptoms. Emotional symptoms include constant worry, feelings of irritability, moody, difficulty concentrating, crying spells, anxiety or panic attack, feelings of annoyance, feelings of vulnerability and this can be coupled with physical symptoms such as sweating, headaches, tremors and muscle tension. Victim s daily life events can also be severely affected. An individual victim may be constantly worried about future victimization. Long-term effects of anxiety might result in a mental health diagnosis for the individual victim. Since criminal victimization can be a traumatic experience for the victim, a very large literature on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has gained attention to study the victim 7

8 effects. PTSD is a psychiatric condition and has been classified as an anxiety disorder according to the American Psychiatric Association in the DSM-IV-TR, where the requirements are that: the person must have directly experienced, witnessed or learned about an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or other threat to one's physical integrity the person's response to the event must involve intense fear, helplessness or horror the traumatic event is persistently re-experienced in at least one of: recurrent and distressing recollections; replaying the event; flashbacks; intense psychological distress at exposure to cues relating to the event; physiological reaction to cues; plus persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the event and numbing of general responsiveness (at least three types); plus persistent symptoms of increased arousal (at least two types). All three of these must be experienced at the same time over at least one month, causing significant distress or impairment. Acute PTSD is deemed to be duration of less than three months, chronic PTSD three months or more. The symptoms of PTSD include depression, anxiety, hostility and irritability, recurring nightmares and memories of abuse, difficulty concentrating and sleeping disorders, and feelings of apathy and/or emotional detachment. Severely affected victims may develop syndrome of PTSD. It can occur in people affected by all kinds of traumatic events such as accidents, war, terrorism as well as crime (Resnick, 1997). For a crime victim to be diagnosed with PTSD can be a debilitating experience as the person might re-experience trauma over time via flashbacks, nightmares, images and/or reliving the event. The person must avoid stimuli associated with the traumatic event and experience numbness of response such as a lack of affect and reduced interest in activities. Some studies suggest that PTSD can be a real problem among crime victims. Research has shown that victims of sexual assault are more likely to develop PTSD. The PTSD can become more serious when the victim is not believed by the society and s/he is blamed for being a victim. For example women who have been victims of rape are subjected to such judgements where in they are blamed for going out alone at night or dressing inappropriately. There is a common belief that all victims are traumatized and hence are more prone to develop negative emotional and mental reactions. However a victim may also show some 8

positive emotional reactions to the event and this can help the victim to overcome that situation successfully. Rebuilding one s life after a criminal incident can be a daunting task for a victim.

9 positive emotional reactions to the event and this can help the victim to overcome that situation successfully. Rebuilding one s life after a criminal incident can be a daunting task for a victim. To cope with the event effectively and successfully requires a lot of time and effort and an ability to move forward without over-thinking about what had happened. Resilience is a term used often to describe a person s ability to maintain a balanced state in the face of challenges (Bonanno 2004). The psychological impact that a victim face as a result of the crime can hamper one s coping strategies and hence recovering from that event can be a challenge. Bonnano (2005) indicates that having a healthy living in terms of strong social support system, pragmatism and availability of good resources can allow growth and resilience in an individual. The ability to be confident and self-sufficient in times of hardships can help a victim to face challenges. Rather than feeling dejected on becoming a victim, life events should be seen as learning opportunities. Participating in empowering activities such as self-defence classes or becoming victim advocates or activists can help the victim gain some control over one s life as feelings of hopelessness/helplessness might affect after the crime. A positive self-image is also necessary so that the victim will be resilient in the face of crisis. Victims of crime struggle with feeling safe after being victimized and hence having a positive outlook about the world can help them to withstand the crisis of crime. Research also notifies the benefits of a strong social support to crime victims. PTSD Symptoms Source: 9

2.5. Social Effects Victims of crime have to experience emotional distress because of being victimized. This can lead to increased negative effect and reduced positive effect.

10 2.5. Social Effects Victims of crime have to experience emotional distress because of being victimized. This can lead to increased negative effect and reduced positive effect. As a result of which victims experience low levels of well-being and personal safety which in turn forces the victims to change their social life so as to avoid being a victim again. The victim would normally change the situation or the context in which the crime took place (such as not going to that part of the city, or not going to that particular pub, etc). Social effects can also be short-term and long-term. 3. Secondary Victimization Secondary victimization is related to institutionalized victimization where the victim faces discrimination by the criminal justice system, hospitals and the broader society. This in turn further aggravates the suffering of an individual victim. The victim feels a sense of shock and loneliness for not getting the support from all these institutions and thus coping from the criminal event becomes more difficult. 4. The Way Victims are viewed Victims of crime are most vulnerable when they are trying to get back on their feet after their ordeal. They are often viewed as witnesses in the criminal procedure and a source 10

of evidence. The plight of the victim is often overlooked by the criminal justice system and the society in general. 4.1.

11 of evidence. The plight of the victim is often overlooked by the criminal justice system and the society in general Victim Blaming and Stereotypes against the Victim Prevailing stereotypes against victims of crime still exist in our society. Victims are often blamed for being the targets in the first place. They are often questioned for their behaviour. For example, victims of rape are often questioned if they showed any risky behaviour (such as drinking or wearing inappropriate clothes, etc) which might have grabbed the attention of the offender. All these show us that victims are blamed for what happened (Shapland & Hall, 2007). Source: The extent of mental agony that the victim has to undergo because of the judgements by the members of the society only adds up to the already existing physical, emotional, financial and psychological consequences of victimization. This makes the recovery process more challenging and difficult. The stigma attached to being a victim of crime is also lifelong and has profound impact on the victim. Sometimes the victim do not report the crime to the police because of the element of distrust on the police system and once they do enter the 11

12 world of criminal justice, they are treated as mere witnesses than victims even though the victims right movement emphasized on the importance of treating victims with dignity and respect. Victims are also subjected to probing and embarrassing questioning by the police and the prosecutors to verify the details of the crime which leads to a fear of the legal system among the victims (Miller, 1996). Victims can also face disgrace in the hands of the society. For example, people would shun away a rape victim and avoid contacts with the family of a victimized woman Feelings of Apathy and Indifference towards the Victim Victims of crime often face people s apathy and an attitude of indifference. The criminal justice agents are interested and concerned with the apprehension of the offender and hence the sufferings of the victims get neglected. These feelings of not given the importance and respect that a victim deserves results in a lack of faith and confidence on the entire criminal justice system. Source: 12

13 5. Summary and Conclusion The effects of crime on victims are multi-faceted. It can have both short-term and long-term effect on the victims. Victim s suffering was not given much attention and gradually they received the importance that they deserve. These effects of crime expose the victim to a range of physical, financial and psychological issues. Victims suffer physical injury because of the crime and require medical attention which can put a burden on their financial expenses. Victims also often experience mental health issues such as anger, depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder following their victimization. These issues can in turn increase or decrease the emotional/psychological distress of the individual victim. The consequences of victimization can also have mild and severe impact on the functioning and health of the victim. References Shapland, J. & Hall, M. (2007). What do we know about the effects of Crime on Victims?. International Review of Victimology, Vol. 14, pp Daigle, L.E. (2011). Victimology: A Text/Reader ( Vol. 9). Georgia State University: SAGE. Resnick, H. (1997). Acute Panic Reactions among Rape Victims: Implications for Prevention of Post- Rape Psychopathology. NCP Clinical Quarterly, Vol. 7. Miller, T. R. (1996). Victim costs & consequences: A New Look. US Department of Justice National Institute of Justice; Washington, D.C. 13

CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO PTSD.!! Andrea DuBose, LMSW

CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO PTSD!! Andrea DuBose, LMSW "There are words that Never Show on the body that are deeper and more harmful than anything that bleeds" Laurel K. Hamilton, Mistral's