Victims’ Reactions to crime

Not every victim reacts in the same way to crime. However, we can predict some reactions in three different phases:

During the crime

When the victim is being attacked, she/he can feel:

1. panic
2. strong physical and psychological reactions, such as paralysis, hysteria, trembling
3. fear of death
4. impression of living a nightmare
5. perception that the offender as a personal anger against her/him
6. terror of imprisonment and of impotence

Immediately after the crime

Despite the fact that, in some cases, the victim doesn’t express some kind of emotion, she’s/he’s under strong emotional stress. Most of the reactions appear when the victim realizes what has happened. Then she/he can feel:

1. disorientation
2. apathy
3. denial
4. feeling of loneliness
5. powerlessness
6. shock 

In the following days

In days after the crime, the victim tends to question herself/himself on the reactions, the feelings and how to come back to a “normal” day to day life. Then the victim can show an emotional instability and sudden changes of mood. These reactions can also be present in family and friends.

The consequences of victimization

As mentioned above, the consequences of victimization can be diverse. But despite the different reactions, and the real perception that each case is different, every victim feels disturbed by a violent act. However, it’s not only the seriousness or the crime that can de determinant to victims’ reaction; generally exists a series of consequences (psychological, physical, social) that emerge after the crime and that can be determinant for the victims’ life.

It’s also important to say that the victim is not the only person suffering. Witnesses can also be affected.  The victims’ family and friends can also experience the consequences of crime (feeling powerless, fear of losing the loved one, feelings of guilt) even if they didn’t witnessed the act.

The consequences of victimization can be expressed in a physical level, psychological level and social level.

Physical consequences

The physical consequences from victimization are not only direct results of crime (bruising, fractures), but also answers from the body to the stress, such as:

1. loss of energy;
2. muscular pain;
3. headaches;
4. digestive problems;
5. increase or diminish of appetite;
6. shivering and/or sudden warmth;
7. constipation;
8.  nausea;
9. trembling;
10. high blood pressure;
11. changes in the sexual behaviour;
12. increase or diminish of the sexual desire;
13. absence of orgasm;

Psychological consequences

The psychological consequences from victimization can be very difficult to overcome. Some victims are afraid of loosing their psychological balance. They can feel:

1. loneliness;
2. guilt;
3. powerlessness;
4. feeling of injustice;
5. anger;
6. distrust;
7. sadness;
8. flashbacks;
9. lack of motivation;
10. confusion;
11. loss of memory;
12. difficulty in focus;
13. problems tacking decisions and establishing priorities;
14. extreme irritability;
15. problems sleeping;
16. fears or phobias;
17. loss of self-confidence 

Social Consequences

The victimization sometimes obliges to structural changes in day to day life (change of house, of work, for example). These changes can conduct to:

1. feeling of loneliness;
2. family and/or conjugal life tensions;
3. fear of being alone;
4. avoidance of certain spaces;
5. feeling insecure.

The consequences above mention are the most frequent. In the following table we present the most typical consequences of certain types of crime.  However we can never forget that each case is different and unique, so some victims can express different reactions to crime.

Consequences	Children witnessing domestic violence	Sexual violence against children		Family of murder victims	Theft
Psychological	· loss of self-confidence  · shame · depression · distrust · feeling of guilt · suicide attempts	· feelings of guilt and of powerlessness · anger · insecurity · fear · feeling dependent of mother/father · feeling that is being disputed by the father and/or mother	· nervousness · phobies  · social isolation · insomnia and nightmares · enuresis · feeling of guilt · irritability · aggressiveness	· guilt · aggressiveness · depression · loneliness · suicidal thoughts · feeling of revenge	· fear · feelings of guilt · insomnia ·nervousness · distrust
Physical	· insomnia · fatigue · psychosomatic disturbance · sleep disturbance	· insomnia · hyperactivity	· diminishing or loss of appetite · urinary infections ·sexually transmitted diseases · abdominal pain · vomiting	· loss of appetite · fatigue · difficulty in focus · health problems	· digestive disturbance · high blood pressure
Social	· isolation · stigmatization · family and friends incomprehension	· stigmatization · school absenteeism · difficulty focusing in school	· fear of going home · constantly manipulating the genital organs · regression to younger behaviours · sexual activity · delinquency · prostitution · home escapes · school problems	· isolation · distrust in others · family conflict	· distrust in others · changing habits · reduction of social activities