The essence of the concept of “victim behavior”
Definition 1
Victimization is a complex of personal and psychological properties of a person that determine his tendency to become a victim of a crime, an unfortunate combination of circumstances or an accident.
There are people who are masters of their lives, who confidently move forward and achieve their goals, attracting good luck to themselves. There are also those who constantly find themselves in unpleasant situations, becoming victims, and their personal qualities cause bewilderment among people.
To denote a pattern of behavior that predisposes to the occurrence of dangerous circumstances for life and health, the term “victimization” is used in modern psychology.
Note 1
Victimity in Latin means “victim”. This human property can be considered a pathology.
Finished works on a similar topic
Course work Tendency to victim behavior at the adolescent stage of socialization 400 ₽ Abstract Tendency to victim behavior at the adolescent stage of socialization 280 ₽ Test paper Tendency to victim behavior at the adolescent stage of socialization 210 ₽
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Note 2
In social psychology, victim behavior is considered as a deviation based on predisposition, external circumstances, and the influence of society.
Children in adolescence are most susceptible to this complex.
There is a characterological portrait of a person with victimized behavior; he is distinguished by a special worldview and perception of himself, which determines his provocative actions and destructive thinking. Such a person magnetically attracts ill-wishers, criminals, manipulators, for the benefit of others, endures injustice, goes against his own interests, silently endures insults, sacrifices himself.
In relationships with others, victimized people always have problems, and those around them quickly lose interest in these people. A person with victimized behavior is easy to manipulate and those around him abuse his reliability and kindness.
The victim is helpless and those around him can clearly see this - hunched shoulders, clenched movements, a dull look, a hunched back, an awkward gait and, as a rule, a lowered head. This image shows immersion in one’s inner world and fear of everything that happens in the external environment.
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Regularly becoming a victim and experiencing suffering, a person does not understand why this happens. Like others, he also wants attention, recognition, respect, but cannot understand the reasons for his disdainful attitude towards himself. This model of behavior has a provocative effect; it makes others want to humiliate and cause harm.
At the level of intuition, in the presence of a potential enemy, a person does not show his weaknesses, avoids dangerous and conflict situations, but if this does not happen, then victim behavior appears.
Psychological features of the manifestation of victim behavior among modern youth
Bibliographic description:
Kuznetsova, L. E. Psychological features of the manifestation of victim behavior among modern youth / L. E. Kuznetsova, A. N. Eroshenko. — Text: immediate // Current issues of modern psychology: materials of the II International. scientific conf. (Chelyabinsk, February 2013). - T. 0. - Chelyabinsk: Two Komsomol members, 2013. - P. 73-75. — URL: https://moluch.ru/conf/psy/archive/81/3404/ (access date: 07/09/2021).
The relevance of studying the psychological characteristics of the manifestation of victim behavior among modern youth is determined by the social and practical significance of the issues of humanization of society, the need to solve the problems of forming a socially adapted personality, as well as the increased need for victimological prevention and correction.
The rhythm and style of life, the norms and rules dictated by modern society, the increasing need for self-realization among young people leads to various manifestations of victimization in their behavior. Young people want to realize themselves fully and seize more and more areas for self-actualization. Striving to be first in everything and always, they sacrifice their needs, positive emotions, relationships with significant people, unconsciously creating victimization towards themselves.
In Russian psychology there is very little experimental research on the topic of victim behavior of an individual; there are only a few works studying the psychological characteristics of children and adolescents using forensic psychiatric material (Burelov E.A., 1991; Morozova I.G., 1992; Kuznetsov I.V. ., 1994; Dogadina M.A., Perezhogin L. O; Kudryavtsev I.A., 1988, etc.). However, the need for such research is increasingly increasing in practical terms (Guryeva V.A., 1991).
Until now, the problems of the genesis of victim behavior, the system of factors that determine its occurrence, and the peculiarities of the manifestation of these patterns of behavior in young people have been poorly studied. There is practically no at least somewhat satisfactory diagnostic material that allows identifying a person’s potential victimization. There is also no developed system of preventive measures aimed at preventing the realization of victim potential [1].
Today, victimization and victimized behavior of a person is becoming the subject of close attention in social psychology (Mudrik A.V., Hartman S., Anlauf K., Tulyakov V.A., Kholyst B., Eminov V.E., Enikeev M.I.), psychology personality (Vasiliev V.L., Mamaichuk I.I., Dogadina M.A., Perezhogin L.O., Prozumentov L.M., Frank L.V.), psychopathology (Asanova N.K., Rybalskaya V. I.).
We consider victimization as a psychological deviation, enshrined in habitual forms of human activity (behavior), which determine the subject’s potential or real predisposition to become a victim [3].
Victimization is determined by a set of emotional and personal characteristics that contribute to the subject’s maladaptive style of response, leading to damage to his physical or emotional-mental health [2]. At the same time, the possibility of realizing these qualities largely depends on the presence of a specific situation. Therefore, the study of the psychological aspects of victim behavior should be carried out at two main levels: as a consequence of a social process and as an individual deviation. Undoubtedly, the level of victimization may be within the normal range, or it may go beyond the norm, manifest as maladaptation of the individual or a violation of the patterns of his interaction with the environment.
Numerous studies have shown that children, especially teenagers, are most prone to exhibiting victimized behavior. Most likely, the results obtained are due to the special attention of researchers to the criminal behavior of an individual and the consideration of a victimized individual as a victim of a crime.
But, if we consider victimization according to L.V. Frank as an increased ability of a person, due to his social role and a number of physical and spiritual qualities, to become a victim under certain circumstances [4], then the “risk” group can include people with a low socio-economic status: young people (students), old people, disabled people. Taking into account the requirements of modern Russian employers for hired personnel, the “victims” include women over 40-45 years old and men over 45-50 years old. In this connection, a significant part of mature independent individuals who want to work, earn money and self-realization in life fall into the category of people prone to victimized behavior in Russian society.
Thus, many people have a potential “psychological complex of victimization”, for some it is more determined by personal characteristics, and for others it is due to the social situation of the development of modern society. In any case, it affects people's behavior and provokes aggressive behavior towards them.
Japanese victimologist Koichi Miyazawa identified both general victimization, depending on the social, role and gender characteristics of the victim, and special, realized in the attitudes, properties and attributions of the individual. Moreover, according to K. Miyazawa, when these two types are layered on top of each other, victimization increases [3].
Kholyst B. introduces the concept of victimogenic potential, which includes the state of individual and group victimization at a specific historical moment. Undoubtedly, the personality qualities that make up the victimogenic potential are relative, and are objectified only as elements of the “person-environment” system in the context of an adaptive reaction [3]. Unfortunately, the socio-economic conditions of the development of modern society provide a favorable environment for the development of the victimogenic potential of the personality of a young person trying to adapt and self-realize as much as possible.
The purpose of our study was to study the characteristics of the manifestation of victimized behavior among modern youth. We assume that the variety of manifestations of victim behavior among young people is due to their adaptive potential and the characteristics of the psycho-emotional state of the individual.
The study took place on the basis of YURGUES in the city of Shakhty, Rostov region. The study involved students aged 17-25 years: boys (80 people) and girls (70 people). At the first stage of the study, 150 students were examined in order to identify boys and girls prone to victimized behavior and the characteristics of their manifestation of victimized behavior (varieties of victimization). The technique used was “Tendency to Victim Behavior” by O.O. Andronikova. At the second stage, the psychological factors of victim behavior of young people were studied using the “SAN” methodology by V.A. Doskin, N.A. Lavrentieva, methods for diagnosing socio-psychological adaptation of personality by K. Rogers and R. Diamond.
The conducted research allowed us to draw the following conclusions.
Out of 150 students, 60 people were identified who were prone to victimized behavior, which is 40% of the total number of students who took part in the study. Of these (Fig. 1):
— 45% of students are prone to hypersocial victim behavior. Hypersocial behavior is sacrificial behavior that is socially approved and often expected. These are active, self-confident people, intolerant of behavior that violates public order. It is this positive behavior that brings the bully's actions upon them.
— 35% of students are prone to uncritical victim behavior. Students demonstrate carelessness, imprudence, and inability to correctly assess life situations as a result of any personal or situational factors. Uncriticality can manifest itself both on the basis of negative personality traits (greed, selfishness, etc.) and positive ones (generosity, kindness, responsiveness, courage, etc.).
— 20% of students are prone to self-harming victim behavior. Self-harmful and self-destructive behavior is sacrifice associated with the active behavior of a person, provoking a situation of victimization by his request or appeal. Essentially, active victims are characterized by two types of behavior: provocative, if another person is involved in causing harm, and self-inflicting, which is characterized by a tendency to risk, rash behavior, often dangerous for the person himself and others. They may not realize the consequences of their actions or not attach importance to them, hoping that everything will work out.
Rice. 1. Students prone to various types of victimization behavior
The study of the adaptive potential and characteristics of the psycho-emotional state of young people prone to displaying various types of victim behavior showed:
— youth with a hypersocial type of victim behavior are characterized by a high level of adaptation, which occurs due to a positive attitude towards themselves and other people. Self-confidence, optimism, activity, social normativity, responsibility, responsiveness, and high sociability are observed. The psycho-emotional state is characterized by a high level of activity and mood, and emotional comfort.
— youth with an uncritical type of victim behavior are characterized by an average level of adaptation, which is maintained mainly due to a high positive attitude towards other people. However, there is decreased self-acceptance, which leads to high responsiveness and an inability to refuse other people. The psycho-emotional state is characterized by a decrease in well-being and emotional comfort.
— youth with self-harming victim behavior are characterized by an average level of adaptation, which is supported by high self-confidence, acceptance of themselves and other people. The psycho-emotional state is characterized by reduced emotional comfort, well-being and mood.
Thus, 40% of modern youth show a tendency towards victimized behavior. The dominant types of victim behavior among students were: hypersocial, uncritical and self-harming behavior. The variety of manifestations of victim behavior among young people is due to their adaptive potential and the characteristics of the psycho-emotional state of the individual.
The hypersocial type of victim behavior is characterized by a high level of adaptation. A decrease in adaptation in non-critical types of victimized behavior occurs due to insufficient self-acceptance, which leads to high responsiveness and the inability to refuse other people, and subsequently to a decrease in well-being and emotional comfort. Reduced adaptation in self-harming victim behavior occurs due to self-confidence, leading to a decrease in emotional comfort, well-being and mood.
It is encouraging that in the identified groups of students prone to victimized behavior, there is no significant decrease in adaptation. This indicates that modern youth are able to adapt to many life situations and realize themselves to the fullest. However, depending on the type of victimization behavior manifested in young people, students need psychological help using appropriate psychological influence techniques.
The social and pedagogical aspect of the prevention of victimized behavior includes a wide range of measures aimed at ensuring normal and harmonious development of the individual, creating a safe and favorable microsocial environment. More attention should be paid to the organization of youth clubs for safe leisure, development of interests and communication abilities, formation of moral principles about socially acceptable forms and safe stereotypes of behavior in various situations. Literature:
1. Malkina-Pykh I.S. Psychology of victim behavior / I.S. Malkina-Pykh. - M.: Nauka, 2009. - 329 p.
2. Mudrik A.V. Victimology / A.V. Mudrik. - M.: Master, 2002. - 524 p.
3. Rivman D.V., Ustinov V.S. Victimology / D.V. Riveman, V.S. Ustinov. - St. Petersburg: Gardarika, 2000. – 320 p.
4. Frank L.V. Victimology and victimization / L.V. Franc. - Dushanbe, 2002. - 342 p.
Victim behavior of teenagers
A child begins to find himself in the most difficult life situations during adolescence, so this age is one of the most vulnerable. A teenager must solve quite difficult problems without having life experience. Among these tasks one can name liberation from adult guardianship, relationships with peers and girls, a little later the problem of choosing a profession appears, and in addition there is an active formation of personality.
The victimization of adolescents is strongly influenced by television, peers with an antisocial orientation, and the negative impact of adults on the psyche. Such a negative impact leads to the commission of antisocial acts and can put a teenager in the position of a victim.
Increased victimization in adolescence is caused by curiosity, gullibility, suggestibility, helplessness in conflicting life situations, physical weakness and other psychophysical characteristics of this age.
Young people with no life experience most often become victims of crime. They are not competent in matters of the reasons and conditions for committing a crime, they neglect warnings, have a poor understanding of people, are risky, gambling, careless and imprudent.
At any age, a person’s own family can become a factor in a person’s victimization. Scientists believe that the tendency to an antisocial lifestyle and self-destructive behavior can be inherited.
Personal characteristics can hinder or, conversely, contribute to a person’s victimization. These include a person’s stability or flexibility, the development of reflection, his value orientations, self-regulation, etc.
Factors that provoke the development of victimization in adolescents include:
- age-related characteristics of the mental and psychosexual development of adolescents, combined with gullibility and lack of criticality;
- individual psychological characteristics of the individual – anxiety, emotional instability, neuropsychic tension;
- components of the personality structure - low ability to integrate behavior, social timidity, high conformity;
- in a conflict situation, there is a tendency to “withdraw into oneself” to alleviate emotional discomfort;
- low sexual awareness;
- neuropsychiatric disorders;
- emotional rejection, neglect, lack of emotional warmth, easy suggestibility, inability to resist violence and assess the degree of danger;
- domestic abuse and hostile perceptions of the world contribute to the willingness to be a victim of violence.
Note 3
Victimological prevention of the population and, in particular, adolescents can stop the increase in the number of victims of unfavorable conditions of socialization.
