Question

145. A victim of domestic violence states, "If I were better, I would not have been beat." Which feeling best describes what the victim may be experiencing?

A) Fear
B) Helplessness
C) Self-blame
D) Rejection

Answer 1

The feeling that describes a domestic violence victim's thought of self-responsibility for the abuse is Self-blame. This is due to their belief that changing their own behavior might control or prevent the violent outcomes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The feeling that best describes what a victim of domestic violence may be experiencing when they state, "If I were better, I would not have been beat," is C) Self-blame. This refers to the victim's tendency to attribute the cause of the abuse to their own perceived shortcomings or failures. The context of learned helplessness, as discussed by Seligman and colleagues, aligns with feelings of helplessness and may be pertinent as well. Victims may blame themselves due to the belief that they have no control over the situation, which could be a result of learned helplessness. However, in the case of the statement provided, the clear emphasis is on the victim's perception that their behavior or qualities could be the reason for the violence, which directly points to self-blame.