Introduction:
A victim is a person who has suffered harm individually or collectively. The injury can be mental and a physical injury as well. The injuries will include emotional sufferings, violation of Fundamental Rights, economic loss, etc. The term ‘Victim’ is also referred to the immediate family or dependants of the direct victims and persons who have suffered in intervening to assist victims in distress or to prevent victimization.[1]
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the definition of “Victim” is as follows:
“Someone or something that has been hurt, damaged, or killed or has suffered, either because of the actions of someone or something else, or because of illness or chance:
- to provide financial aid to hurricane/flood, etc.
- victims of crime
- The children are the innocent/helpless victims of the fighting.
- The new drug might help save the lives of cancer victims.
- We appear to have been the victims of a cruel practical joke.
- Our local hospital has become the latest victim of the cuts in government spending.”[2]
Victimology
Victimology is the Study of Victimization.[3]
Victimology also studies the interaction and relationship between the Victim and the Criminal Justice System which includes the police, Courts and other Officials as well, and it also studies the relationship between the Victims and the Society as well.[4]
Victimology is a study of the relationship or a connection between the person who has suffered a loss (Victim) from the harmful acts of the other persons (Perpetrators).[5] Victimology includes the psychological and mental effects on the victims from the harm suffered and it also studies the psychological effects in the mind of the wrongdoer or the Criminal, that took place during the commission of the Crime and after the commission of the Crime.
Victimization
According to Vocabulary.com, victimization refers to the act of cruelty and bullying.[6]
Victimization is a highly complex process encompassing a number of possible elements. The first element (often referred to as ‘primary victimization’) comprises whatever interaction may have taken place between offender and ‘victim’ during the commission of the offence, plus any after-effects arising from this interaction or from the offence itself. The second element encompasses ‘the victim’s’ reaction to the offence, including any change in self-perception that may result from it, plus any formal response that s/he may choose to make to it. The third element consists of any further interactions that may take place between ‘the victim’ and others, including the various criminal justice agencies with whom s/he may come into contact as a result of this response. Where this interaction has a further negative impact on the victim, it is often referred to as ‘secondary victimization’.[7]
There is a large body of evidence that demonstrates a close relationship between offending and victimization. One reason for this is that some kinds of crime arise out of mutual interactions between people, to the extent that victims and offenders are almost interchangeable: the clearest example would be fighting in and around pubs on a Saturday night. Even where crimes do not arise immediately out of interpersonal interactions, people often tend to commit offences on others within their social circle, because these people are most accessible to them, or because they are paying off an old score. This way we can say that victimization is the relationship between the victim and the accuse, there is no exact definition available on it. There are different types of victimization which are as follows: Primary victimization, Secondary victimization (post crime victimization), Re-victimization (repeatedly became the victim) and also, Self-victimization (variety of reason to justify abuse).[8]
Primary Victimization
Primary victimization is a type of victimization in which a person or the victim suffers a loss due to a direct act of the perpetrator. The loss caused is a direct result of the criminal activity of a person. The loss suffered can be divided into mental, physical and economic loss. Mental loss generally includes the emotional and psychological effects on the victim, whereas, physical loss includes all the losses relating to an intangible property, for example, the human body, animals, etc. Economic loss literally refers to the financial loss of a person, for example, loss of property or loss of money in fraud schemes relating to finances. So, Primary victimization is caused as a result of a direct act of the wrongdoer.[9]
Secondary Victimization
This type of victimization comes into picture when the harm suffered by the victim is not a direct result of a criminal act rather it is suffered by the society and the manner in which other individuals deal and pursue the victim.[10] Secondary Victimization mostly occurs during the investigation process when the officials carry out inappropriate or aggressive behaviour while the process is ongoing.
Secondary victimization through the process of criminal justice may occur because of difficulties in balancing the rights of the victim against the rights of the accused or the offender. More normally, however, it occurs because those responsible for ordering criminal justice processes and procedures do so without taking into account the perspective of the victim.[11]
This type of victimization has been regularly seen and experienced by Rape Victims. The society in which the incident took place plays a huge role in shaping the thoughts and opinions of the people who belong to that society as well as the people who are not even the member of the said society. Sometimes, due to the societal pressure and the opinions of the people, the victims don’t even report the crime that eventually leads to a rise in the number of crimes.
Re–victimization
Re–victimization literally refers to the victimization of a person more than once. Studies have shown that whenever a person is re-victimized, they feel even more shame and guilt and they tend to judge themselves harshly. Re-victimization often leads to a person overthinking and over judging themselves which impacts their mental health negatively and which eventually affects their physical health as well.[12] A person can suffer from re-victimization from the acts of the society as well. Society plays an important role in affecting the individual’s mental health. The reactions from other people also adds into the re-victimization of a person. Rape victims often experience re-victimization because of the stereotypical assumptions and opinions of the society.
Self-victimization
Self-victimization literally refers to the victimization which takes place when a person commits such an act that caused his (or her) own harm or loss.
Conclusion and Comments
We can figure out from the above study that there are different types of Victimization and Victimology is a really good form of studying and understanding the psychological abilities and mental health of the victims and this really helps in figuring out the problems the victims face mentally as well as physically. Victimology can really help in lowering the number of mental illnesses that are faced and experienced by the Victims. Therefore, there is a need to encourage Victimological Research in India to find the ways, methods and techniques that will affect the physical and mental health of Victims positively.
References:
[1] UN Convention on Justice and Support for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, Draft Convention- 14th November, 2006, Page:02.
[2] Meaning of Victim in English, Cambridge Dictionary, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/victim
[3] Andrew Karmen, Crime Victims: an Introduction to Victimology, 2003, Wadsworth Publishing.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Victimology: Definition, Theory & History, Chapter 02, Lesson 27, Study.com, https://bit.ly/3nFs4c3
[6] Victimization, Volcabulary.com, https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/victimization.
[7] Akash Shah, Victims, victimization and victimology, Legalserviceindia.com, https://bit.ly/33PTZhy.
[8] Ibid. Para:07.
[9] Ibid. Para:31.
[10] Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, Recommendation Rec(2006)8 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on assistance to crime victims (Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 14 June 2006
at the 967th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies), https://rm.coe.int/16805afa5c
[11] Akash Shah, Victims, victimization and victimology, legalserviceindia.com, https://bit.ly/33PTZhy
[12] Keith Fadelici LSCW, Revictimization: How Can This Keep Happening?, May 04, 2020, Psychology Today, https://bit.ly/30XsrVv
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