AUTOAGGRESSION OF SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problem of the occurrence of autoaggression in victims of sexualized
violence through self-harm, self-abasement, addiction, objectification, manipulation of the body, moral prohibitions. The urgency of the problem lies in the widespread occurrence of sexualized violence, as well as the
emergence of new forms of violence with the advent of modern means of communication. The sample under study consisted of 17 victims of sexualized violence in the broadest sense of the term: not only victims of violent acts with penetrative sex, but also those who were subjected to attempted rape, forced to watch pornography, victims of exhibitionism, and others. As a research methodology, the authors use a phenomenological approach, which allows them to understand the life world of the victims and assess the experiences of the victims using narrative interviews. The emphasis is placed on analyzing the personal experiences of the victims in relation to behavior, body, and appearance. It describes changes in life values and moral attitudes among victims of sexualized violence, disorganization of behavior, deformation of their own body image, and a decrease in self-esteem, which ultimately affects the rest of their lives. The directions and content of psychological assistance to victims, as well as psychological education in order to minimize violence in society, are considered.