Psychological Effects Of Direct And Indirect Victims

Many individuals have flashbacks after experiencing trauma. Survivors of such horrible traumas sometimes can act out in violence, after something triggers them to remember the ordeal. The novel The Suspect by L.R. Wright, offers a realistic account of what goes on in the mind of an individual who has committed murder. Throughout the novel, I made connections to many real life examples of how trauma has affected the lives of criminals and their victims, through either alcohol or mental illness. Individuals affected by this sort of trauma can seek medical or social help in order to be able to learn how to cope with daily living.

As discussed and studied there are many who now have a hard time believing there psych disorders exists. Understandably so, because we find that it can become repetitive once a criminal has scene that there may be a way out of their consequence. Mr. Kenneth Bianchi is known as the Hillside Strangler and also a man who brought more skepticism to psych defenses in crime. This is a man who was caught and convicted for 15 rapes and murders. In his younger years you could say he has slightly a tragic story. His biological mother was a drunk but “was adopted at birth and had a love-hate relationship with women even as a young child.” (Bio, 2017)

As Alice was going through major hell during the rape and even after the rape, it seemed as it was not taken seriously by others. Alice describes her pain, fears, and many problems that came along the way when it came for fighting for herself and the after effect of the rape. Being a rape victim was not easy, and Alice showed many signals that she needed more than just comfort, but sadly many of them failed to provide that for her.

In life, the line that separates victims from perpetrators is as clear as a window pane, but in some situations that window can crack, causing damage and danger. A victim is someone who has been harmed, or worse, due to a crime or accident. A perpetrator is a person who has committed a crime, either accidently or purposely. Three stories that capture this blurred line are Shattered, an Australian Story episode on ABC’s website, The Story of Tom Brennan, a story written by Australian author J.C.Burke, and In My Little Town, another Australian Story episode. They all share the common theme of having a blurred line between victim and perpetrator.

Is it possible to lose oneself and have the life drained out of him or her by another’s misdeed? It most certainly can, according to Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak. Anderson’s novel revolves around a fourteen year old girl named Melinda Sordino, who was raped at a summer party. Traumatized and not sure of what to do, Melinda calls the police, but leaves in fright as chaos breaks out and several are arrested. Melinda then starts off her freshman year of high school loathed by nearly every student at Merryweather. Her inability to inform someone, anyone, about what really happened that night leads to her disintegration physically and mentally. However, certain activities, such as her art class and a tree Melinda is assigned to create,

When it comes to victimization there are many different theories and types of victims. Mendelsohn explains his theory through “situational victimization factors.” (Robert, 2013). Basically this boils down to the victim being at the wrong place, around other offenders, or in a high crime area. Hentig prefers to describe victims with “personal factors associated with victimization.” (Robert, 2013). Hentig believes things such as, a person’s social standing, childhood, or mental/emotional state determine their likely hood becoming a victim. Lastly we have Sellin and Wolfgang theory that situations determine someone becoming a victim.

In victimology, there are still many unanswered questions and difficulties to find patterns that would easily classify victims, because nobody is exempt from becoming a victim. Nevertheless, some clichéd views about victims are embedded in our society. For example, Christie (1986) describes the idea of the ideal victim, which is, in fact a person who is easily given the status of being a victim. Ideal victims are perceived as blameless, law-abiding, usually female, vulnerable and worthy of help, sympathy and attention. Walklate (2005) used the fairytale of little red riding hood to illustrate the ‘ideal victim’; young, innocent, female out doing good deeds only to be attacked by

One scary night, Jennifer was going through an event where her body was taken by force in the book, “Picking Cotton”. Would you be able to pick out a face from a line up? The biggest issue is putting together the puzzle pieces of the crime that took place when you’re the one who is experiencing the traumatic event. We all have been scared before but, if you really think about it do you really see the small details or the big picture? The law enforcement works hard to make sure common mistakes don’t take place during these investigations and assure we don’t send away the wrong person away for the crime. After, attending a seminar at Somerset Community College on February 7, 2017, we can now understand a little more about memory and how’s it’s processed during a traumatic event while also, learning about Jennifer’s story.

A trait that stands out in the book is the symptom of bodily memories. In Melinda’s case, during a frog dissection in her science class, she remembers the opening up and even says, “She doesn’t say a word. She is already dead. A scream starts in my gut – I can feel the cut, smell the dirt, feel the leaves in my hair.” (81). One of the other symptoms that Melinda has is self-harm. The first time that this is shown in the book, Melinda says this, “I open up a paper clip and scratch it across the inside of my left wrist. Pitiful. If a suicide attempt is a cry for help, then what is this? A whimper, a peep?” (87). Melinda also has a hard time talking to her parents about the rape to which she says, “How can I talk to them about that night? How can I start?” (72). Some victims recover from such a traumatic experience, while others don’t and live a lifetime of depression and must undergo intense therapy. In Melinda’s case, she finds redemption by talking to her parents and the guidance counselor, and putting her faith into her teachers, friends, and her art project at school. Because rape can affect anybody anywhere, everyone should be aware of the circumstances, and how to deal with it.

The abuse is usually frequent enough that the victim internalizes it. This leaves the victim feeling fearful, insignificant, untrusting, emotionally needy, and unlovable. Survivors of this form of abuse have a hard time understanding why they feel so bad (Munro, K. 2001.).

The author was seeking justice against her father’s shooter. Though her father had let the ordeal go, she chose infiltrate the attacker’s privacy and live with their family as a journalist. As she learned more about them, her thinking shifted towards the shooter. She did not forgive him but when he was not released with all of the other prisoners, she felt sorrow for the family and herself. She has learned from the family about the attacker and felt sorry that she had ever tried to seek vengeance against him. He was already shown justice but after talking with the family, she only wanted his forgiveness, forgetting about seeking

On Tuesday, March 1, 2016, I attended a presentation led by Jeanne Bishop, author of Change of Heart, in which she discussed how she was able to reconcile with the murderer of her sister and brother-in-law. Throughout the presentation, Jeanne Bishop described in great detail about the murder itself and the process it took for her to forgive the murderer, David Biro. She expressed her thoughts and feelings with passionate emotions, causing me to feel and see how difficult her hardships were in her perspective. I personally felt that I could definitely relate because I have a younger sister as well. Bishop elaborated that her sister was an expecting mother, had a wonderful, bubbly personality, and that she had an exceedingly close bond with

They feel as though there is no one that can help them and that they are alone. This phase “may be expressed several hours or even days after the crime” (Bard and Sangrey, 1979, pg. 35).

What do you think of violence when you hear it. I think of deep emotional pain. Not that I have been bullied but I know some people that have been. Now let me show some effects of violence.

The history of victimology travels further back in time than most would realize. The concept of the victim emerged from the many attempts of many societies and peoples to explain both the reasons behind victimization and the appropriate action to be taken as a result of it (Burgess et al., 2013). As a concept, it can be difficult to define victimology, since each individual defines the term differently. According to the text utilized for this class, victimology is defined as being the study of the victim, including the offender and society. It is also seen as being a social-structural way of viewing the relationships between crime and the law as well as the criminal and the victim (Burgess et al, 2013)..