Victim Counseling: Applying the psycho-social coping Model

1. Victim Counseling:Applying the psycho-social coping Model John P. J. Dussich, Ph. D. Tokiwa International Victimology Institute “Victimology & Victim Assistance” LPSK Bogor, Indonesia March 26, 2013

2. Introductory comments Coping is what persons do, physically, socially, and cognitively to meet the demands of living. The objective of coping is to reduce the stress brought about by the presence of a problem. Copingstyles vary according to individuals, families, and cultures. Some persons cope appropriately & others cope inappropriately. Appropriate coping means being positive, engaging in constructive problem solving, task-focused behavior, working out, accepting help, etc.; while inappropriate coping is blaming oneself or others, denying the problem exists, trying to cope alone, use of drugs or alcohol, being aggressive, etc. Coping is highly individualistic & is mostly learned.

3. Coping and Victimization • Those who cope well have a better chance to avoid victimization. • Having been victimized suggests a pattern of vulnerability exists. • Thus, good victim counseling must include providing potential victims with the education to understand their vulnerabilities. • Vulnerabilities can be lowered by understanding the coping process.

4. THE PSYCHO/SOCIAL COPING MODEL ANTECEDENTS COPING MILIEU RESULTS Success COPING PROCESS PERSONAL RESOURCES PROBLEM APRAISAL Failure FEEDBACK

5. Five Personal Resources • Repertoire • Social assets • Psychic assets • Physical assets • Time

6. A Problem • A problem is here defined as a multi-dimensional condition that blocks status and/or the pursuit of goals which creates physical, social and psychical stresses.

7. The Psycho/Social Coping Process -The psycho/social coping process has four distinct phases: 1. Prevention(Starts with the awareness that a problem is possible.) 2. Preparation (Starts with the awareness that a problem is imminent.) 3. Action(Starts when aproblem is present.) 4. Reappraisal(Starts after a problem is over.)

8. UNDERSTANDINGTHE FOUR COPING PHASES • AWARENESS OF A PROBLEM POSSIBILITY • REASONABLE ANTICIPATION versus DENYING THE LIKLIHOOD • AWARENESS AND APRAISAL OF A PROBLEM COMING • PREPARATION versus ABSENCE OF PREPARATION • PROBLEM-EVENT OCCURING • COPING versus FAILURE TO COPE • PROBLEM-EVENT IS OVER • SECONDARY COPING versus EVENT IS OVER

9. Applying coping to victimization and recovery Victimizationis an event whereby a person is unable to cope with an attack due to inadequate resources. -Recovery is the end-state when a victim resumes a functional life-style with significantly fewer symptoms and acquires a positive identity of self. -Inadequate resourcesresult in vulnerability, victimization, and a poor ability to recover. -Adequateresources result in resiliency, safety, and an enhanced ability to recover.

10. Pre-victimization Patterns • Conditions that increase vulnerability: • high-risk milieu (crime/accident scenes) • distorted problem-appraisals (fatigue/alcohol/drugs) • psychic disabilities (mental retardation or illness) • social disabilities (abandonment/shunning/isolation) • physical disabilities (injury/illness/weakness) • limited time (tardiness/low reaction time/unavailability • underdeveloped coping (inexperience) • faulty coping (maladaptive) • Opposite conditions decrease vulnerability.

11. During-victimization Patterns • Conditions that decrease vulnerability: • use of resourcefulness (skills/strength/intelligence) • self-delivered reassurances (self encouragement) • positive thinking (learned optimism logical analysis) • rational action (reality oriented) • regulate negative emotions (self control) • positive appraisal (honest assessment) • problem solving (prioritization/optimism/persistence) • diminished vulnerability (awareness/ empowerment) • Opposite conditions increase vulnerability.

12. Post-victimization Patterns • Conditions that decrease vulnerability: • healing milieu (hospital/clinic/home/church) • positive intervention (use tried and tested methods) • psychic strengths (mastery/IQ/education) • social strengths (abundance of quality relationships) • physical strengths (good health/endurance/youth) • time abundance (scheduling/good reactions) • developed coping (mastery/education/practice) • appropriate coping (adaptive/realistic/resourced) • approach coping (having the will to try/optimism) • Opposite conditions increase vulnerability.

13. The Main thesis of the Psycho/Social Coping Model • Those with moreresources specific to their life-style have a higher chance to avoid victimization, if victimized, will cope better, recover sooner and suffer less. • Those with few resources specific to their life-style have a higher likelihood of becoming victims; if they become victims, they have a poorer chance of surviving; and, if they survive, they will not recover well and suffer more.

14. Implications for Counseling • Can be used to understand all victims. • Can also be used to assist victims recover. • Emphasizes a holistic multi-resource approach. • Focuses on environmental adaptation to coping. • Encourages the teaching of realistic preparation. • Teaches that coping strategies must be individual. • Points to the need for teaching basic coping skills early in life. • Underscores the important of psycho-social education as part of good victim counseling.

15. Terimakasihbanyak