Victim-blaming is one of the key reasons why victims don't report sexual assault. Guilt is often the initial and most intense response for victims and additionally blame placed on them could send them over the edge, making it impossible to cope with the pain of the experience. Blaming the victim releases the perpetrator from accountability for their actions. Family and friends may blame the victim in order to relieve themselves of personal guilt for not protecting the victim or to give themselves a false sense of security in thinking, "it will never happen to me, because I won't travel alone at night like she did."

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