Progress in Understanding Victim-Survivors of Interpersonal Violence: Introduction to the Section

Abstract

Victim-survivors of interpersonal violence have had an uphill battle to get recognized, understood, and treated with appropriate attention and respect across the medical, mental health, and criminal justice systems. The relational nature of this type of victimization has long been associated with widespread societal misunderstanding and myths, especially regarding the victim’s perceived culpability and status. Stereotypes about gender and gender roles and about power, influence, and resources have contributed. As the most prevalent victims of interpersonal violence, females and those of lesser power have been subjected to skepticism regarding the reality and accuracy of their reports, and it has often been suggested that they were somehow responsible or at fault for their own misfortune and victimization. In contrast, offenders (especially those in positions of authority, celebrity, or leadership) are more likely to be believed and exonerated. While these viewpoints and issues persist in many quarters, major changes have taken place over the course of the past 50 years. The field of traumatic stress studies and the sub-fields of victimology and interpersonal violence began in the 1960s and 1970s. Ongoing research since then has resulted in significant changes in baseline understanding of victims of all types of trauma but especially those that are interpersonal. In this part of the handbook, we trace many of these recent developments across a variety of topics and themes.

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