The Use of Victim Self-Protective Behaviors during Violent Crimes as Predictors of Post-Incident Emotional Distress

• In Event: Victim Identity, Help-Seeking and Self-Protective Behavior

Abstract

Targets of criminal violence may employ self-protection strategies in the course of a violent act. A significant body of criminological research considers how victims deploy these strategies –referred to as victim self-protective behaviors (VSPBs) – and whether their use prevents the completion of criminal acts or reduces the incidence of injury. Criminologists have devoted less attention to the manner in which the deployment of such strategies may be implicated in the level of emotional distress that victims report in the wake of crime. In order to address this gap, we developed generalized ordered logit models that incorporate National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) data in predicting levels of post-incident emotional distress. The results suggest that the use of forceful physical strategies of resistance (e.g., detaining or pursuing assailants or weapon use) are predictive of reporting lower levels of distress relative to verbal or non-forceful physical strategies. Strategies of inaction or cooperation are predictive of higher levels of distress relative to other self-protection behaviors. We comment on the implications of this study for future criminological research concerning self-protection behaviors and the effects of emotional distress for victims of violent crime.

Authors

• Jason B. Phillips, Rutgers University, New Brunswick

• Brooklynn Hitchens, Rutgers University

• Alicia Raia-Hawrylak, Rutgers University, New Brunswick