When people face uncomfortable truths, it is common for them to turn their anger on the victim instead of addressing the real problem. This isnāt just random cruelty-it is a well-documented pattern in psychology and history.
š§ Why Do Crowds Blame Victims?
- Just World Belief: People want to believe the world is fair. When something bad happens, it is easier to say the victim āmust have done something to deserve itā than to admit injustice exists.
- Scapegoating: Crowds under stress often look for someone to carry the blame. Picking a visible individual is psychologically easier than confronting complex failures by institutions or leaders.
- Conformity Pressure: When a community starts blaming the victim, others join in, even if they privately disagree. People fear being isolated more than they fear being wrong.
- Cognitive Dissonance: Admitting the system failed creates tension. Blaming the victim reduces that tension by preserving the illusion that the system still works.
š Historical Examples
- Victorian England: Assault survivors were condemned as āfallen women,ā while menās actions were excused.
- Anita Hill (1991): Instead of confronting sexual harassment in high office, the public tore apart Hillās credibility.
- Steubenville (2012): The media framed perpetrators as āpromising athletes,ā shifting sympathy away from the victim.
- Rehtaeh Parsons (2013): Community bullying compounded the harm, driving her to tragedy.
š The Pattern
In every case, the psychology of the masses made it easier to attack the victim than to confront powerful institutions or admit systemic wrongs.
- Survivors are scrutinized: What were you wearing? Why were you there?
- Institutions are protected.
- Crowds repeat the story that makes them most comfortable, even if it is false.
š¢ Why This Matters Here
The same psychology explains why, even after two separate legal rulings against the board, some in our community still insist it is my fault. The pattern is the same:
- Protect the powerful.
- Shift scrutiny to the victim.
- Pretend the facts do not matter.
š Blaming the victim comforts the crowd, but it never fixes the problem.
