VICTIM IN LIFE

Victim of a crime

A victim of a crime, or crime victim, is in criminology and criminal law, the identifiable person who has been harmed individually and directly by the perpetrator or defendant, rather than merely society as a whole. Not all criminologists even accept the concept of victimization or victimology.^{[citation needed]} It also remains a controversial topic within women's studies.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Consequences of crimes

Emotional distress as the result of crime is a recurring theme for all victims of crime. The most common problem, affecting three quarters of victims, were psychological problems, including: fear, anxiety, nervousness, self-blame, anger, shame, and difficulty sleeping.^[2] These problems often result in the development of chronic PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Post crime distress is also linked to pre-existing emotional problems and sociodemographic variables. This has known to become a leading case of the elderly to be more adversely affected.^{[citation needed]}

Victims suffer from the following:

• Increase in the belief of personal vulnerability.
• The perception of the world as meaningless and incomprehensible.
• The view of themselves in a negative light.^[2]

The experience of victimization results in an increasing fear of the victim of the crime, and the spread of fear in the community.

[edit] Victimization