Gender-based crimes, such as intimate partner violence, are unfortunately prevalent and have devastating consequences for individuals and society as a whole. These crimes can lead to severe physical, psychological, and/or sexual trauma, affecting the well-being and safety of the survivors. Research has shown that both men and women experience physical violence from partners, highlighting the widespread nature of these incidents. The negative consequences of IPV, including increased stress and severe depression, underscore the urgent need for effective interventions and support systems for survivors.
Furthermore, societal victim-blaming attitudes contribute to the stigmatization of survivors, further exacerbating their suffering. This victim-blaming culture often places the burden and responsibility on the survivors rather than holding the perpetrators accountable for their actions. As a result, survivors may feel isolated, ashamed, and reluctant to seek help, hindering their recovery and access to justice. It is crucial to address these societal attitudes and shift the focus towards supporting and empowering survivors. This especially applies to those who conduct interviews regarding gender-based crimes.
The Societal and Cultural Component
Cultural attitudes about beauty and sexuality often include a degree of objectification, most often directed towards women. Objectified individuals are often perceived as less moral, less intelligent, and less human, leading to diminished empathy and understanding of their experiences.
For instance, according to a study conducted by the University of Vienna, participants were shown videos to simulate social exclusion and objectification. The results revealed decreased empathy for objectified women compared to personalized women, highlighting the impact of objectification on empathy levels and its association with gender-based violence.
An additional study published in the Journal of Social Issues found that individuals exposed to objectifying media content demonstrated lower levels of empathy towards individuals depicted in such media, leading to a higher tolerance for gender-based violence. This highlights the way that continued exposure to objectifying content can erode the ability to provide appropriate compassion for the victims of gender-based crimes.
This lack of empathy is seen in the way that victims of sexual assault are asked to account for how they could have changed their behavior to avoid the incident, from their choice of clothing to their alcohol consumption and beyond. In the interview room, a similar lapse in empathy can lead an interviewer to engage in behavior that can alienate their subject, or worse, retraumatize them.
The Role of Empathy in Building Trust and Rapport
The Institute for the Study of Human Flourishing at the University of Oklahoma conducted a study that demonstrated the positive impact of empathy on building trust and rapport with survivors of gender-based crimes. The study highlighted how empathetic interactions fostered a sense of safety and understanding, leading to more cooperative and open communication during the investigative process.
When law enforcement and other professionals approach survivors with empathy, it validates their experiences and creates a safe environment for them to share their stories. This empathetic approach helps survivors feel heard and understood, which is essential in building the necessary rapport for effective communication and cooperation during the investigation process. By acknowledging the emotions and experiences of survivors, empathy forms the foundation for a supportive and respectful investigative environment, leading to more successful outcomes.
Additionally, empathy is instrumental in mitigating the potential dangers associated with survivors recalling traumatic events during interviews. The act of recall can often cause a victim to freshly experience the emotional pain of their memory. Empathy and an understanding of trauma’s effect on memory and the brain form the core of trauma-informed interviewing.
Trauma-Informed Interviewing Techniques
When it comes to investigating gender-based crimes, trauma-informed interviewing techniques play a crucial role in ensuring that survivors are approached in a way that can facilitate recall without causing additional distress. These techniques prioritize the emotional well-being of survivors throughout the investigation process, acknowledging the potential impact of trauma on their ability to recount their experiences. By creating a safe and supportive environment, trauma-informed interviewing techniques aim to minimize the risk of re-traumatization during the investigative process, thereby fostering trust and rapport between the survivor and the investigator.
The integration of empathy into trauma-informed interviewing techniques is instrumental in creating an environment where survivors feel safe, validated, and empowered to share their stories. Here it is important to understand the difference between empathy and sympathy, as they may at first appear similar but will have different levels of effectiveness during an IPV investigation.
Sympathy is the ability to feel sorry for someone else but without the additional element of validating how they themselves feel. Approaching a traumatized subject with sympathy places them at a distance from you, and can still lead to lines of questioning that blame or belittle them. Empathy is a stronger response and must be genuinely felt.
To ensure that investigators are well-equipped to employ trauma-informed interviewing techniques effectively, comprehensive training is imperative. Organizations like Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates offer valuable training programs that emphasize the significance of trauma-informed interview approaches. These programs not only provide practical guidance on trauma-informed approaches but also underscore the importance of empathy in building trust and rapport with survivors of gender-based crimes. Through such training, investigators can refine their skills in conducting interviews that prioritize the emotional well-being of survivors, ultimately contributing to more effective and empathetic investigations.
A study published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence highlighted the positive outcomes of trauma-informed interviewing techniques in gender-based crime investigations. The study revealed that survivors who were interviewed using trauma-informed approaches reported feeling more supported, understood, and empowered, leading to a higher level of cooperation and trust in the investigative process. This underscores the significance of empathy in trauma-informed interviewing techniques and its profound impact on survivors’ experiences during investigations.
Conclusion
Empathy is a crucial element in the investigation of gender-based crimes, encompassing its significant role in building trust and rapport with survivors and contributing to the gathering of accurate information. Organizations and investigators need to prioritize empathy and trauma-informed interviewing techniques to support survivors and ensure the pursuit of justice.
Gender-based crimes can be among the hardest for any investigator to deal with. They must be handled with care. The utilization of rapport-based investigation practices, and taking the time to become a trauma-informed interviewer, can help a practitioner guide a victim through a recollection of their events that is complete and truthful without causing emotional or psychological harm.
Interested in learning more? WZ will be in attendance at the EVAWI International Conference on Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and the Cycle of Justice on April 1-3 in San Diego, CA. Find out more and register here.
Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates is a consulting and training organization dedicated to supporting professionals in the difficult task of identifying the truth. Our passion for the truth has led us to become a world leader in non-confrontational interview and interrogation training.
