THE ROLE OF GENDER AND AGE FACTORS IN PERSONALITY VICTIMIZATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Abstract

The article examines victimhood as a complex clinical and psychological problem that requires interdisciplinary analysis and clarification in contemporary science. It is emphasized that the phenomenon of victimhood is not limited to the passive role of a victim but encompasses a broader spectrum of manifestations: from individual psychological predispositions to behavioral patterns and social scenarios shaped by cultural and socio-economic contexts. It has been established that the terms “victimhood”, “victim behavior”, and “victimogenicity” denote different aspects of the issue, which complicates its scientific operationalization. Individual-personality factors (cognitive schemas, psychological defense mechanisms, emotional regulation), socio-contextual influences (family, social institutions, culture), as well as the dynamics of victimhood at different life stages among women and men have been analyzed. It was revealed that gender significantly determines victimization scenarios: in women, models of interpersonal dependence and risks of sexualized violence prevail, whereas in men, patterns of risky and aggressive behavior are more common. Age-related differences were identified: childhood is characterized by high dependence on the microsocial environment, adolescence by sensitivity to peer pressure, early adulthood by social-role instability, and late adulthood and old age by the risk of isolation and exploitation. An integrative clinical-psychological model of analyzing victimhood is proposed, combining the micro-level of personal psychological mechanisms with the macro-level of the social environment. The study concludes with the necessity of further development of differentiated prevention and psychotherapy programs that take into account gender and age specificity, which underlines the practical significance of the research.