victimization
vik-tih-mih-ZAY-shun
/ˌvɪktɪmaɪˈzeɪʃən/
The action of singling someone out for cruel or unjust treatment.
In criminology, it refers to the study of how people become victims and the psychological impact of that process.
The story behind the word. The word 'victim' originally referred to a living creature killed as a religious sacrifice. 'Victimization' carries that heavy history, suggesting someone is being 'sacrificed' for someone else's gain or malice.
Word relationships
- persecution: Persecution is usually more systematic and based on group identity (religion, race).
- exploitation: Exploitation specifically refers to using someone for one's own benefit.
- protection: Protection is the act of keeping someone safe from harm.
Commonly confused with
- victimhood: Victimhood is the state of being a victim; victimization is the process of being made one.
Word family
- victim (noun): A person harmed as a result of a crime or accident.
- victimize (verb): To single someone out for unfair treatment.
Collocations
- secondary victimization
- repeat victimization
- victimization rates
Example sentences
- "The study examined the patterns of victimization in urban neighborhoods over the last decade." Sociology
- "The employee filed a complaint alleging victimization after they reported the manager's misconduct." Workplace
Memory hook
VICTIM-ization: The process of making someone a victim. Targeted for harm.
When not to use
Avoid using it to mean 'being a victim' in a passive sense; it often implies an active process of being targeted.
Fun facts
- The term 'secondary victimization' refers to the harm caused to a victim by the very legal system meant to help them (e.g., harsh questioning).
Related words
Explore more words
Victimology, tyranny, marginalization, marginalize, perpetrator, Harassment
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