Scam Victims’ Do It Yourself Recovery: Dangers of Equivocation, Minimization, and Reductive Language – 2024
Dangers of Equivocation, Minimization, and Reductive Language
How Language Influences Thought and Impacts Recovery
Primary Category: Scam Victims’ Do It Yourself Recovery
Author:
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
About This Article
Equivocation, minimization, and reductive language are harmful tools that scam victims often use to downplay or distort their trauma, making the recovery process more difficult. These language patterns may initially offer emotional relief by avoiding the painful reality of the scam, but they ultimately hinder healing.
By minimizing the severity of their experience, victims delay recognizing and processing the emotional and psychological damage they have endured, which can lead to long-term distress, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This type of language also reinforces self-blame, prevents emotional validation, and limits the support victims receive from others.
