Psychological Violence
An Overview of Why Scam Manipulation & Control are Considered Psychological Violence
Primary Category: Psychology of Scams
Author:
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
About This Article
Psychological violence refers to the deliberate infliction of emotional and mental harm on an individual, often resulting in long-lasting damage to their well-being. In the context of scam victims, this type of violence manifests through the systematic grooming, manipulation, and control tactics employed by scammers.
These tactics are designed to erode the victim’s sense of self-worth, autonomy, and reality, leading to severe emotional distress. The effects of psychological violence on scam victims can include anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compounded by feelings of shame, guilt, and self-blame.
This form of abuse also isolates victims from their support networks, further trapping them in a cycle of emotional and psychological distress that can be challenging to break. Recognizing and addressing the impact of psychological violence is crucial for the recovery and rehabilitation of scam victims.
Psychological Violence and its Effects on Scam Victims
Psychological violence refers to any form of emotional or mental abuse that causes harm to an individual’s psychological well-being. Unlike physical violence, which inflicts bodily harm, psychological violence targets a person’s mental state, often leading to long-lasting emotional damage. It can be subtle or overt, and its effects are often deeply damaging, contributing to issues like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Why are Scams Psychological Violence?
The grooming, manipulation, and control exercised during relationship scams are considered psychological violence because they involve deliberate and sustained efforts to harm an individual’s mental and emotional well-being. Unlike physical violence, which leaves visible scars, psychological violence works to undermine a person’s sense of self-worth, autonomy, and reality through coercion, deception, and exploitation. The scammer’s tactics are designed to create deep emotional bonds, instill false hope, and foster dependency, all while isolating the victim from external support systems. This manipulation often leads to severe emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and a profound sense of betrayal, all of which can have lasting psychological effects.
Moreover, the control exerted by scammers is a form of emotional and psychological domination that strips victims of their agency. Scammers exploit the victim’s vulnerabilities, manipulating their emotions to the point where the victim feels trapped in the relationship. This manipulation is not just deceitful but also abusive, as it systematically breaks down the victim’s resistance, making them more susceptible to further exploitation. The psychological trauma inflicted in these scams can be as damaging as physical violence, leading to long-term issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), trust issues, and difficulty in forming healthy relationships in the future. In this way, relationship scams are a clear example of psychological violence, where the victim’s mind and emotions are the primary targets of abuse.
Key Components of Psychological Violence:
Verbal Abuse: This includes insults, belittling, constant criticism, or threats. Verbal abuse is aimed at diminishing a person’s self-esteem and sense of worth. It can involve yelling, swearing, or making demeaning comments.
Manipulation and Control: Psychological violence often involves manipulating someone’s thoughts, emotions, or actions. This could include gaslighting (making someone doubt their reality), controlling behavior (restricting access to money, social contacts, or activities), and using guilt or fear to control actions.
Isolation: Abusers may attempt to isolate the victim from friends, family, or support systems. This isolation can be physical (preventing the victim from leaving the house) or emotional (discouraging relationships with others).
Intimidation and Coercion: Intimidation involves actions meant to instill fear, such as threatening looks, gestures, or actions. Coercion refers to forcing someone to act in a certain way, often against their will, through threats or pressure.
Humiliation and Degradation: The abuser may humiliate or degrade the victim publicly or privately, making them feel worthless or ashamed. This can involve name-calling, mocking, or deliberately embarrassing the victim.
Blaming and Guilt-Tripping: The abuser may constantly blame the victim for things that go wrong, making them feel responsible for the abuse. Guilt-tripping is used to manipulate the victim into compliance or submission.
Gaslighting: A form of manipulation where the abuser makes the victim question their memory, perception, or sanity. This is done by denying the victim’s reality or making them feel that they are overreacting or imagining things.
Exploitation of Vulnerabilities: This involves taking advantage of the victim’s emotional, psychological, or physical vulnerabilities to maintain control or cause harm.
Impact of Psychological Violence
Psychological violence can lead to severe emotional and mental health issues, including chronic stress, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and feelings of worthlessness. The damage caused by psychological violence often requires long-term therapy and support to heal.
The impact of psychological violence on scam victims can be profound and far-reaching, affecting nearly every aspect of their lives. Victims often experience intense feelings of shame, guilt, and self-blame, questioning how they could have been deceived so thoroughly. This emotional turmoil can lead to significant mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The manipulation and deceit used by scammers not only violate the victim’s trust but also leave them doubting their own judgment and instincts, which can make recovery even more challenging. This erosion of self-confidence can lead to long-term difficulties in rebuilding trust, not just in others but in themselves as well.
Moreover, the psychological violence inflicted by scammers can isolate victims from their support networks. As victims are manipulated into keeping the scam a secret or feel too embarrassed to share their experiences, they may withdraw from family, friends, and social interactions, exacerbating feelings of loneliness and despair. The financial losses that often accompany these scams only add to the stress, creating a cycle of emotional and psychological distress that can be difficult to break. The combination of these factors can have a lasting impact on the victim’s ability to form healthy relationships, maintain financial stability, and regain a sense of control over their life.
Legal Recognition
Many countries recognize psychological violence as a form of domestic or intimate partner violence, and laws have been established to protect victims. However, it can be more challenging to prove psychological violence compared to physical violence, as the evidence is often less visible and more subjective.
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Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- SCARS Institute now offers a free recovery program at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
SCARS Resources:
- Getting Started: ScamVictimsSupport.org
- FREE enrollment in the SCARS Institute training programs for scam victims SCARSeducation.org
- For New Victims of Relationship Scams newvictim.AgainstScams.org
- Subscribe to SCARS Newsletter newsletter.againstscams.org
- Sign up for SCARS professional support & recovery groups, visit support.AgainstScams.org
- Find competent trauma counselors or therapists, visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
- Become a SCARS Member and get free counseling benefits, visit membership.AgainstScams.org
- Report each and every crime, learn how to at reporting.AgainstScams.org
- Learn more about Scams & Scammers at RomanceScamsNOW.com and ScamsNOW.com
- Learn more about the Psychology of Scams and Scam Victims: ScamPsychology.org
- Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at shop.AgainstScams.org
- Donate to SCARS and help us help others at donate.AgainstScams.org
- Worldwide Crisis Hotlines: International Suicide Hotlines – OpenCounseling : OpenCounseling
- Campaign To End Scam Victim Blaming – 2024 (scamsnow.com)
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this and other SCARS articles are intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
Note about Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices have the potential to create psychological distress for some individuals. Please consult a mental health professional or experienced meditation instructor for guidance should you encounter difficulties.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.
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I grew up in a war torn country. I have grieved the loss of loved ones. I can really say that this trauma is psychological warfare on our community. I am left abandoned, devastated, traumatized and in debt. Still… I will get up to fight another day.