Revictimization

It is important to not stereotype survivors of abuse. Bad things can happen to anyone. However, a common finding in research on female survivors of childhood sexual abuse is that those who undergo sexual victimization at a young age are two to three times more likely than their non-victimized peers to experience a sexual assault in adulthood (Herman, J. Trauma and Recovery: From domestic abuse to political terror, BasicBooks, USA, 1992). This is a phenomenon that researchers have called "revictimization," and is both perplexing and troublesome. 

Why does it happen?

Like in nearly all research surrounding abuse, there are no concrete answers. But, there are a few theories:

1. Under-developed boundaries: There are two predictors that can greatly increase a survivor's chances of being revictimized. These are 1) The younger the victim was at the time of the abuse, the more likely she will endure revictimization. 2) The more severe the abuse, the greater her chances are of revictimization. A possible explanation for these two factors is that the individual's ability to develop good boundaries has been severely compromised. When we are young, we are very vulnerable. We accept the world as it is presented to us. When a loved one abuses us, we accept it as normal. The more severely we are violated, the more damage is being done to our boundaries. 

2. Inaccurate "Danger Cue" Reading: In one study, some researchers found that those who reported revictimization were not as good as their non-victimized peers at identifying people who broke what they labeled "social contracts." In other words, they couldn't identify people who would likely do them harm. Another study presented its participants with a hypothetical dangerous situation. Those who had been victimized as children reported that they would leave after the situation became physical, while those who had never been victimized reported they would leave well before then. It has also been noted that the "cue-reading" works both ways. Those set out to victimize others are good at "reading" who will likely be a victim, and who will not. 

3. Coping Mechanisms and Adjustment Issues: I've mentioned in a previous post that survivors of sexual abuse have been robbed of their body-ownership. Because they have been treated so cruelly by others, they believe that their bodies are simply available to whoever wants them. Researchers have found that survivors of childhood sexual abuse are likely to engage in much higher amounts of consensual sex than those who have not been victimized. They are also more likely to self-medicate with alcohol. These both can make survivors more vulnerable to attacks. Also, the usage of coping mechanisms like denial, self-blame, and distancing from social relationships can increase a survivor's vulnerability. These can all decrease a survivor's sense of self-worth and her motivation and ability to protect herself.  

I think it's not just survivors of sexual abuse who can face revictimization. I went through emotional abuse as a child, and throughout my growing-up years I was constantly being pushed around. I believe that there are parallels between revictimization of both sexual abuse and other types of abuse, and they are worth studying. 

What is Sibling Abuse?

So now that I've got this blog rolling, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty issue: what exactly is sibling abuse? Researchers disagree on an exact definition, but it can be broadly defined as the “physical, emotional, or sexual abuse of one sibling by another.”[1] But how, exactly, can we put this definition into practice?

We can all agree that there is no excuse for physical or sexual abuse. Emotional abuse is not as clear-cut. Parents know that it can be hard at times to ascertain which sibling is being picked on and which is doing the picking. Being able to define sibling abuse requires an ability to distinguish abuse from rivalry.  Different researchers have come up with different strategies for making this distinction. Doctor Vernon Wiehe, a professor of social work at the University of Kentucky, is a prominent researcher of sibling abuse and has developed a system for ascertaining if a situation is abusive. His method is available here. He has some intriguing theories as to why siblings become abusive and what parents can do to prevent abuse.

Systems such as Wiehe's can be a bit complicated and hard to follow. So I have developed my own system for ascertaining if a situation is abusive. I call it: Four Red Flags of Sibling Abuse
Here’s a breakdown:

• Their roles are rigid. One sibling is always the victim; the other is always the aggressor. [2]
• One sibling is frightened of the other
• The aggressor's main objective is to get a thrill from the behavior (rather than to retaliate, express a frustration, compete, etc.)
• One sibling consistently attacks with no provocation

If parents notice one or all of these signs, they are dealing with sibling abuse. Once they have found out about it, they must do everything in their power to stop it. This means educating themselves, finding resources, and practicing different methods until they have successfully eradicated bullying from their homes. I hope my blog will point them in the right direction.  

              

  

                

                

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[1] Frazier BH, Hayes KC. Selected Resources on Sibling Abuse: An Annotated Bibliography For Researchers, Educators and Consumers. SRB 94 – 08 Special Reference Briefs. 1994. Formerly available at URL: http://www.cyfernet.org/research/sibabuse.html. Accessed 23 May 2008.

[2] Boyse, Kyla, RN. "University of Michigan Health System." Sibling Abuse: Your Child:. N.p., Nov. 2012. Web. 01 Feb. 2013.