Chapter 5 / Victims of Crime

Question 1

victimology

Answer 1

The study of victims.

Question 2

victim

Answer 2

A person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event or action.

Question 3

culpable

Answer 3

Deserving of blame ; guilty of wrongdoing.

Question 4

primary victim

Answer 4

A person who is directly harmed as a result of a victimizing experience.

Question 5

secondary victim

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

tertiary victim

Answer 6

A person who may suffer repercussions of victimization even though they are not directly involved in or witness to the harmful event.

Question 7

direct victim

Answer 7

A person who is present at the time of victimization and experiences harm.

Question 8

indirect harm

Answer 8

A person who is not immediately affected by victimization, but nonetheless suffers in some way as a result of it.

Question 9

actual victim

Answer 9

A person who is the direct target of victimization.

Question 10

vicarious victim

Answer 10

A person who does not experience direct victimization but nonetheless responds as if they had been victimized directly after learning of the event.

Question 11

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

rape trauma syndrome (RTS)

Answer 12

A set of PTSD symptoms that have been linked specifically to those who have been experienced severe violence in the form of sexual assault

Question 13

victim precipitation

Answer 13

The problematic assumptions that victims can somehow influence or bring about their own victimization by exhibiting behaviours that provoke a victimizer.

Question 14

rape myths

Answer 14

Stories that reflect belief systems that reveal incorrect assumptions about the causes of sexual assault.

Question 15

victim blaming

Answer 15

A process whereby a victim is found at fault for his or her own victimization, in whole or in part.

Question 16

blame continuum

Answer 16

The range of blaming possibilities, from total guilt to total innocence, of both the victim or victimizer.

Question 17

resilience

Answer 17

The ability to successful recover from trauma.

Question 18

insulators

Answer 18

Social and psychological factors that protect and individual from being harmed.

Question 19

personal protective factors

Answer 19

The characteristics an individual possesses to help deal with stress, including coping skills, the ability to handle new situations, and social skills.

Question 20

community and social support factors

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

victim impact statement (VIS)

Answer 21

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).