The dilemma of non-agency vs. provocativeness in victimhood accounts of young people
Published:
Jul 3, 2023
Keywords:
victimhood agency provocativeness discrimination bullying
Abstract
Psychological theory and research on school violence and bullying have interlinked
the victim's profile to vulnerability and irresponsiveness, without alternative
constructions of victim's identity being discussed. This strand of research
approaches victims as members of low-status groups, and thus as statedly holding
a less dominant position among their peers. While social-psychological research
drawing on social identity approach has argued that young people who are
victimized are likely to build up on a common identity, the present paper discusses
how young people in their everyday interactions may be distanced from the nonagentic identity of victim. The purpose of the present study is to analyze how the
victim's identity is constructed in young people's interactions regarding bullying
and violence. To analyze the data, concepts/tools drawing on discursive psychology
and rhetorical psychology are used. Victimhood dilemmas arose in lay interaction,
with the main concern of young people being not to be self-positioned as victims.
The victim's identity was often related to a lack of agency or even to slight
provocativeness. While the perpetrators were very often constructed as irrationally
aggressive people, in other cases, the participants were mainly referred to the
victim's provocativeness or excessive passivity to justify the persistence of
victimizing acts.
Article Details
- How to Cite
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Karagianni, K., & Sapountzis, A. (2023). The dilemma of non-agency vs. provocativeness in victimhood accounts of young people. Psychology: The Journal of the Hellenic Psychological Society, 28(1), 195–212. https://doi.org/10.12681/psy_hps.30552
- Section
- RESEARCH PAPERS
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