Fear Of Contagion: Why Scam Victims Are Harshly Judged And Blamed

Helping Both Victims and Families or Friends to Better Understand

Author:
•  Vianey Gonzalez – Licensed Psychologist Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
•  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Fear Of Contagion – The Hidden Fear of Crime Victims: How Nonvictims Engage In Denial, Projection, And Extreme Judgmentalism Against Scam Victims

After a scam, victims experience a unique reaction based in the fear of contamination!

This article is intended to help scam victims to better understand this ‘Fear of Contagion’ and why they are treated negatively, and also perhaps to help their family and friends to understand why they are treated differently after the crime occurs.

In the aftermath of a crime, victims often face a barrage of questions and judgments. Their experiences are scrutinized, their choices dissected, and their actions evaluated. Amidst this whirlwind of scrutiny, a subtle yet pervasive sentiment emerges as the fear of contagion.

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Pride – A Dual-Edged Sword For Scam Victims

Author:
•  Vianey Gonzalez – Licensed Psychologist Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
•  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Pride And Shame Can Be Considered Two Sides Of The Same Coin For Scam Victims

Individuals who had great pride in their achievements, success, stability, and even wealth before a scam may experience significant shame and self-doubt when they are no longer able to maintain the same levels after being scammed.

Scam victims’ pride in themselves can quickly turn into shame, but that pride does not simply go away, it can linger and become a barrier to effective recovery – becoming a form of denial.

This can be a complex and challenging experience, but there are ways to cope with these emotions and move forward.

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Selective Amnesia and Scam Victim Psychological Trauma 2023

Author:
•  Vianey Gonzalez – Licensed Psychologist Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
•  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Selective Amnesia Can Be Caused By Emotional or Psychological Trauma!

Selective amnesia is a type of memory loss where specific events or experiences are forgotten while others are retained. This type of amnesia is often a coping mechanism to protect the individual from the overwhelming emotional distress associated with the traumatic event that can affect scam victims.

How Many Crime or Scam Victims Experience Selective Amnesia

The exact percentage of people who experience emotional or psychological trauma and subsequently develop selective amnesia is challenging due to the complexities of trauma and memory. However, studies suggest that a significant portion of individuals who experience trauma may exhibit some form of memory loss, with estimates ranging from 10% to 25%.

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Psychological Triggers/Emotional Triggers – What They Are And How They Work

SCARS Recovery Psychology

Author:
•  Vianey Gonzalez – Licensed Psychologist Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
•  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

What Are Psychological Triggers or Emotional Triggers?

Why Do They Have So Much Control Over Our Emotions And Mind?

A psychological trigger is a stimulus that elicits or provokes a strong emotional or psychological response.

Psychological triggers can be anything from a sound or smell to a person or place, or something you read, or even a memory. They are usually associated with past traumatic or stressful experiences.

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PTSD And Complex PTSD – The Difference Between Them

Authors:
•  Vianey Gonzalez – Licensed Psychologist Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
•  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Understanding the Scam Victim’s Challenges Navigating the Differences Between PTSD and Complex PTSD

Scam victims face intricate nuances in their trauma, by shedding light on the contrasting impacts of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) we hope to educate victims on their differences. By exploring these differences, victims can gain a deeper understanding of the emotional struggles they may face and how these distinct forms of trauma manifest.

Remember, this is not a replacement for professional counseling or therapy, we only hope to offer valuable insights for those navigating the path to recovery.

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PTSD and Complex Grief – What Are The Differences?

Authors:
•  Vianey Gonzalez – Licensed Psychologist Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
•  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

PTSD and Complex Grief/Complicated Grief: The Two Main Disorders That Often Confuse Scam Survivors And That Affect Scam Victims (Not Including Anxiety Or Depression)

These two main disorders are PTSD and Complex Grief. Scam victims can easily develop one or the other. It is often the case that victims tend to gravitate towards the label PTSD because it is better known, but may not be the right term for what they are experiencing.

This is why it is so important to have a professional therapist to help make these diagnoses.

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