Chapter 5 / Victims of Crime Flashcards
victimology
The study of victims.
victim
A person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event or action.
culpable
Deserving of blame ; guilty of wrongdoing.
primary victim
A person who is directly harmed as a result of a victimizing experience.
secondary victim
A person who is not directly impacted by the harmful effects of a victimizing event, but may witness the event to have to deal with the after-effects of a victimizing event, such as supporting a victim in recovering.
tertiary victim
A person who may suffer repercussions of victimization even though they are not directly involved in or witness to the harmful event.
direct victim
A person who is present at the time of victimization and experiences harm.
indirect harm
A person who is not immediately affected by victimization, but nonetheless suffers in some way as a result of it.
actual victim
A person who is the direct target of victimization.
vicarious victim
A person who does not experience direct victimization but nonetheless responds as if they had been victimized directly after learning of the event.
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
A set of symptoms that emerges as a result of the stress of experiencing severe trauma. Symptoms may include recurring nightmares, jumpiness, agitation, trouble sleeping, trouble concentrating, and social isolation.
rape trauma syndrome (RTS)
A set of PTSD symptoms that have been linked specifically to those who have been experienced severe violence in the form of sexual assault
victim precipitation
The problematic assumptions that victims can somehow influence or bring about their own victimization by exhibiting behaviours that provoke a victimizer.
rape myths
Stories that reflect belief systems that reveal incorrect assumptions about the causes of sexual assault.
victim blaming
A process whereby a victim is found at fault for his or her own victimization, in whole or in part.
blame continuum
The range of blaming possibilities, from total guilt to total innocence, of both the victim or victimizer.
resilience
The ability to successful recover from trauma.
insulators
Social and psychological factors that protect and individual from being harmed.
personal protective factors
The characteristics an individual possesses to help deal with stress, including coping skills, the ability to handle new situations, and social skills.
community and social support factors
The people and resources that support the individual experiencing traumatic stress; that is, community members, family, and friends that serve to insulate the community and its members from traumatizing events through prevention and/or by fostering resilience.
victim impact statement (VIS)
A written document describing the harm done to the victim as a result of victimization and my include statements about physical, emotional, or financial impact(s).
