Which type of victimization can lead to feelings of blame in sexual assault survivors?

Secondary victimization refers to the additional trauma a sexual assault survivor may experience after the initial assault, particularly through interactions with systems that are meant to provide support and justice, such as law enforcement, the legal system, and healthcare providers. This form of victimization can lead to feelings of blame because survivors often face skepticism, victim-blaming attitudes, and a lack of empathy from these systems. Such negative experiences can leave survivors feeling responsible for the assault, compounding their trauma and contributing to feelings of guilt or shame.

In contrast, primary victimization is the initial act of assault itself. Institutional victimization involves harm caused by systemic failures or negligence that affect the survivor, such as inadequate legal responses, which can exacerbate feelings of powerlessness but do not directly lead to self-blame. Retraumatization refers to the process of experiencing trauma again, often triggered by reminders of the initial assault, but does not focus specifically on the social interactions that contribute to feelings of blame. Thus, secondary victimization is particularly significant in understanding how victims internalize blame due to their subsequent experiences.