Victimhood

今天有空在網路遊走了一會，發現了一篇有關Victimhood(受害人情意結)的文章，對這個課題有了更深入的了解。筆者指出美國已逐漸變成一個「受害人」化的國家，很多人爭著取得「受害人」的稱號，又自稱是痛苦經歷中的求生者，社會文化似乎都在鼓勵人擁有屬於自己的「慘痛經歷」。根據筆者所述，受害人通常有以下的立場：

1. 他對於所發生的事沒有責任(Is not responsible for what happened)
2. 他永遠道德正確(Is always morally right)
3. 他不需要向人解釋(Is not accountable)
4. 他永遠值得別人的同情(Is forever entitled to sympathy)
5. 他認為被不正確對待時會感到義憤(Is justified in feeling moral indignation for being wronged)

「受害人」那種期望他人「不要指責我，我也不想這樣」的心態，很多時候與「我要得到這些、這些和這些」的心態並列在一起。某些機構及組織，心理治療師等等，往往鼓勵了「受害人情意結」的發展。在此我援引筆者在文章提及的一些主要觀點：

--The victim stance is a powerful one: The victim is always morally right, neither responsible nor accountable, and forever entitled to sympathy.

--Exploring the psychology of victims has become synonymous with blaming the victim.

--Victims' healing lies not only in empathy and support but also, when appropriate, in helping them assume appropriate and realistic responsibility for what has happened to them.

--Therapists benefit from the tidal wave of victims as it fills the consulting room, and therefore, it is good for therapists' pocket books.

--Therapists have been a leading force in perpetuating the sense of victimization, as it enhances their professional and economic status.

--Intervention or change in the system can be initiated at any time by any participant. Any change in behavior by one of the participants is likely to affect the others' behavior and may lead to a different outcome.

在美國的文化中，討論這個題目被視為是政治不正確，因為會被視為對「受害人」的批評，但仍有學者對有關方面進行研究。相反在香港有關「受害人情意結」研究卻非常少，助人者或助人機構可能對這方面的認識不多或逃避面對這個問題令「Victim continues to victimize themselves」，更多這方面的研究相信可以幫助有這方面問題的受助人走出困境。

Reference:
Zur, Ofer(n.d.)Psychology of Victimhood: Reflections on a Culture of Victims & How Psychotherapy Fuels the Victim Industry. Retrieved 5 December, 2007 from http://www.zurinstitute.com/victimhood.html