NCJ Number
55036
Date Published
1978
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A SCHEME FOR CLASSIFYING VICTIMS OF AGGRESSION IS PRESENTED, AND TREATMENT APPROACHES APPROPRIATE FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF VICTIMS ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE CLASSIFICATION IS BASED ON STUDIES OF CONCENTRATION CAMP SURVIVORS, BATTERED CHILDREN, RAPE VICTIMS, AND MASOCHISTS. TWO BASIC CATEGORIES OF VICTIMS ARE DEFINED: SITUATIONAL (THOSE WHO PLAY NO ROLE IN THEIR VICTIMIZATION) AND PROMOTIONAL (THOSE WHO UNCONSIOUSLY OR CONSCIOUSLY INVITE THEIR OWN VICTIMIZATION). DISTINCTIONS OF DURATION AND FREQUENCY (SINGLE, PROLONGED, OR FREQUENT VICTIMIZATION) AND OF AGE OR DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE (CHILD OR ADULT VICTIM) ARE ALSO MADE. TWO SYNDROMES--ACUTE AND CHRONIC--THAT CAN DEVELOP IN SITUATIONAL AGGRESSION VICTIMS ARE DEFINED, AS ARE THREE TYPES OF DISORDERS--IMPULSIVE, COMPULSIVE, AND CHARACTEROLOGICAL--IN PROMOTIONAL AGGRESSION VICTIMS. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT, AS IN ALL MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL CONDITIONS, THE FIVE SYNDROMES AND DISORDERS IN VICTIMS OF AGGRESSION RARELY ARE SEEN IN PURE FORM. FOR INSTANCE, OFTEN THERE IS A PROMOTIONAL COMPONENT IN THE MOST SITUATIONAL VICTIM, AND VICE VERSA. A CHRONIC SITUATIONAL AGGRESSION VICTIM WHO IS NOT TREATED CAN DEVELOP A PROMOTIONAL AGGRESSION VICTIM DISORDER. TREATMENT METHODS APPLICABLE TO EACH TYPE OF SYNDROME OR DISORDER ARE DESCRIBED. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO TWO PSYCHOANALYTICALLY DERIVED VICTIM THERAPIES: SITUATIONAL AGGRESSION VICTIM EMOTO-RESTORATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY (SAVE) AND PROMOTIONAL AGGRESSION VICTIM EMOTO-REMOTIVATIONAL PSYCHOTHERAPY (PAVE). THE GOAL OF SAVE IS TO RESTORE VICTIMS TO THEIR PRETRAUMA CONDITION. THE GOAL OF PAVE IS TO REMOTIVATE PATIENTS SO THEY WILL NO LONGER INVITE VICTIMIZATION. (LKM)