Victim-blaming hinders psychological recovery
April 19, 2016
IN THE NEWS: Abuse victims often find themselves under assault twice – first from their abuser and then from those around them who blame them for the hurt they’ve endured. According to an article in U.S. News & World Report, victim-blaming is a cultural phenomenon.
UCI Health psychiatry expert, Dr. Anju Hurria, says that victim-blaming comes up “all the time" in sessions, and that it’s really considered a secondary trauma or assault.
“Those who are blamed for their abuse report greater distress and increased amounts of depression," she said. “It often decreases people’s chances of reporting future abuses, because there is fear they won’t be believed, or that they’ll have to deal with the negative feedback of reporting it. Victim-blaming can ultimately stand in the way of recovery.”
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