Perceptions of the Victimization of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
Author(s)
Douglas N. Evans
ABSTRACT
Perceptions of the victimization of persons with intellectual disabilities were explored from the perspectives of adults with mild intellectual disabilities as well as service providers and supervisors who work with this population. Interviews were obtained for 10 adults with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, those who work with persons with intellectual disabilities were interviewed: 10 service providers and five supervisors (n = 25). Results indicate that perceptions of victimization were influenced by factors such as victimizer motivations, proximity to victimization, and situational pre-dictability. Offenses that cause harm are recognized as victimization by most, but non-harmful offenses are not always perceived as victimization, especially when respondents were involved in the offense. The implications of these findings related to recognition, reporting, and prevention of victimization are discussed.
Perceptions of the victimization of persons with intellectual disabilities were explored from the perspectives of adults with mild intellectual disabilities as well as service providers and supervisors who work with this population. Interviews were obtained for 10 adults with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, those who work with persons with intellectual disabilities were interviewed: 10 service providers and five supervisors (n = 25). Results indicate that perceptions of victimization were influenced by factors such as victimizer motivations, proximity to victimization, and situational pre-dictability. Offenses that cause harm are recognized as victimization by most, but non-harmful offenses are not always perceived as victimization, especially when respondents were involved in the offense. The implications of these findings related to recognition, reporting, and prevention of victimization are discussed.
Cite this paper
Evans, D. (2013). Perceptions of the Victimization of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. Advances in Applied Sociology, 3, 114-123. doi: 10.4236/aasoci.2013.32015.
Evans, D. (2013). Perceptions of the Victimization of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. Advances in Applied Sociology, 3, 114-123. doi: 10.4236/aasoci.2013.32015.
References
[1] Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (n.d.). About the president’s committee for people with intellectual disabilities. Washington, DC: Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/aidd/programs/pcpid/about [2] Basit, T. N. (2003). Manual or electronic? The role of coding in qualitative data analysis. Educational Research, 45, 143-154. doi:10.1080/0013188032000133548 [3] Bukowski, W. M., & Sippola, L. K. (2001). Groups, individuals, and victimization: A view of the peer system. In J. Juvonen, & S. Graham (Eds.), Peer harassment in school: The plight of the vulnerable and victimized (pp. 355-377). New York: The Guilford Press. [4] Bushman, B. J., & Huesmann, L. R. (2001). Effects of televised violence on aggression. In D. G. Singer, & J. L. Singer (Eds.) Handbook of children and the media (pp. 223-254). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. [5] DeJong, G., Batavia, A. I., & Meknew, L. B. (1992). The independent living model of personal assistance in national long-term care policy. Generations, 16, 89-95. [6] Harrell, E. (2011). Crime against persons with disabilities: 2008-2010. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice. [7] Hickson, L., Golden, H., Khemka, I., Urv, T., & Yamusah, S. (1998). A closer look at interpersonal decision-making in adults with and without mental retardation. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 103, 209-224. doi:10.1352/0895-8017(1998)103<0209:ACLAID>2.0.CO;2 [8] Hiday, V. A., Swartz, M. S., Swanson, J. W., Borum, R., & Wagner, H. R. (1999). Criminal victimization of persons with severe mental illness. Psychiatric Services, 50, 62-68. [9] Hill, R., Lewis, V., & Dunbar, G. (2000). Young children’s concepts of danger. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 18, 103-119. doi:10.1348/026151000165607 [10] Horner-Johnson, W., & Drum, C. E. (2006). 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Vulnerabilities for abuse among women with disabilities. Sexuality and Disability, 19, 177-189. doi:10.1023/A:1013152530758 [21] Oktay, J. S., & Tompkins, C. J. (2004). Personal assistance providers’ mistreatment of disabled adults. Health & Social Work, 29, 177-188. doi:10.1093/hsw/29.3.177 [22] Petersilia, J. (2001). Crime victims with developmental disabilities. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 28, 655-694. doi:10.1177/009385480102800601 [23] Pimlott-Kubiak, S., & Cortina, L. M. (2003). Gender, victimization, and outcomes: Reconceptualizing risk. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 71, 528-539. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.71.3.528 [24] Powers, L. E., Curry, M. A., McNeff, E., Saxton, M., Powers, J. L., & Oschwald, M. (2008). End the silence: A survey of abuse against men with disabilities. Journal of Rehabilitation, 74, 41-53. [25] Quinney, R. (1974). Who is the victim? Criminology, 10, 314-323. doi:10.1111/j.1745-9125.1972.tb00564.x [26] Rand, M. R., & Harrell, E. (2009). Crime against people with disabilities, 2007. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics. [27] Sin, C. H., Hedges, A., Cook, C., Mguni, N., & Comber, N. (2009). Disabled people’s experiences of targeted violence and hostility. Manchester, UK: Equality and Human Rights Commission. [28] Snell, M. E., Luckasson, R., Borthwick-Duffy, W. S., Bradley, V., Buntinx, W. H., Coulter, D. L. et al. (2009). Characteristics and needs of people with intellectual disability who have higher IQs. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 47, 220-233. doi:10.1352/1934-9556-47.3.220 [29] Sobsey, D., & Doe, T. (1991). Patterns of sexual abuse and assault. Journal of Sexuality and Disability, 9, 243-259. doi:10.1007/BF01102395 [30] Sobsey, D. (1994). Violence and abuse in the lives of people with disabilities: The end of silent acceptance? Baltimore: Brooks Publishing Co. [31] Stone, E., & Priestley, M. (1996). Parasites, pawns, and partners: Disability research and the role of the non-disabled researchers. The British Journal of Sociology, 47, 699-716. doi:10.2307/591081 [32] Taylor, S. J., & Bogdan, R. C. (1990). Quality of life and the individual’s perspective. In R. L. Schalock (Ed.), Quality of life: Perspectives and issues (pp. 27-40). Washington, DC: American Association on Mental Retardation. [33] The Arc (2012). Intellectual disability. Washington, DC: Author. http://www.thearc.org/page.aspx?pid=2543 [34] US Department of Justice (2009). Hate crimes statistics. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice. http://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2009/victims.html [35] Wilson, C., & Brewer, N. (1992). The incidence of criminal victimization of individuals with an intellectual disability. Australian Psychologist, 27, 114-117. doi:10.1080/00050069208257591
[1] Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (n.d.). About the president’s committee for people with intellectual disabilities. Washington, DC: Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/aidd/programs/pcpid/about [2] Basit, T. N. (2003). Manual or electronic? The role of coding in qualitative data analysis. Educational Research, 45, 143-154. doi:10.1080/0013188032000133548 [3] Bukowski, W. M., & Sippola, L. K. (2001). Groups, individuals, and victimization: A view of the peer system. In J. Juvonen, & S. Graham (Eds.), Peer harassment in school: The plight of the vulnerable and victimized (pp. 355-377). New York: The Guilford Press. [4] Bushman, B. J., & Huesmann, L. R. (2001). Effects of televised violence on aggression. In D. G. Singer, & J. L. Singer (Eds.) Handbook of children and the media (pp. 223-254). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. [5] DeJong, G., Batavia, A. I., & Meknew, L. B. (1992). The independent living model of personal assistance in national long-term care policy. Generations, 16, 89-95. [6] Harrell, E. (2011). Crime against persons with disabilities: 2008-2010. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice. [7] Hickson, L., Golden, H., Khemka, I., Urv, T., & Yamusah, S. (1998). A closer look at interpersonal decision-making in adults with and without mental retardation. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 103, 209-224. doi:10.1352/0895-8017(1998)103<0209:ACLAID>2.0.CO;2 [8] Hiday, V. A., Swartz, M. S., Swanson, J. W., Borum, R., & Wagner, H. R. (1999). Criminal victimization of persons with severe mental illness. Psychiatric Services, 50, 62-68. [9] Hill, R., Lewis, V., & Dunbar, G. (2000). Young children’s concepts of danger. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 18, 103-119. doi:10.1348/026151000165607 [10] Horner-Johnson, W., & Drum, C. E. (2006). Prevalence of maltreatment of people with intellectual disabilities: A review of recently published research. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 12, 57-69. doi:10.1002/mrdd.20097 [11] Khemka, I., Hickson, L., Casella, M., Accetturi, N., & Rooney, M. E. (2009). Impact of coercive tactics on the decision-making of adolescents with ID. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53, 353362. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2009.01152.x [12] Loberg, M. E. (2009). Victimization of inmates with intellectual disability: A qualitative study. Doctoral dissertation, Pacific University. http://commons.pacificu.edu/spp/99 [13] Marge, D. K. (2003). A call to action: Ending crimes of violence against children and adults with disabilities. Syracuse, NY: State University of New York, Upstate Medical University. [14] Marley, J. A., & Buila, S. (2001). Crimes against people with mental illness: Types, perpetrators, and influencing factors. Social Work, 46, 115-124. doi:10.1093/sw/46.2.115 [15] Marx, B. P., Calhoun, K. S., Wilson, A. E., & Meyerson, L. A. (2001). Sexual revictimization prevention: An outcome evaluation. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 69, 25-32. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.69.1.25 [16] Merriman, S. B. (2002). Qualitative research in practice: Examples for discussion and analysis. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. [17] Mishna, F. Scarcell, I., Pepler, D., & Weiner, J. (2005). Teachers’ understanding of bullying. Canadian Journal of Education, 28, 719-738. doi:10.2307/4126452 [18] Moore, D. (2000). Substance use disorder treatment for people with physical and cognitive disabilities. Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services. [19] Muccigrosso, L. (1991). Sexual abuse prevention strategies and programs for persons with developmental disabilities. Sexuality and Disability, 9, 261-271. doi:10.1007/BF01102396 [20] Nosek, M. A., Foley, C. C., Hughes, R. B., & Howland, C. A. (1997). Vulnerabilities for abuse among women with disabilities. Sexuality and Disability, 19, 177-189. doi:10.1023/A:1013152530758 [21] Oktay, J. S., & Tompkins, C. J. (2004). Personal assistance providers’ mistreatment of disabled adults. Health & Social Work, 29, 177-188. doi:10.1093/hsw/29.3.177 [22] Petersilia, J. (2001). Crime victims with developmental disabilities. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 28, 655-694. doi:10.1177/009385480102800601 [23] Pimlott-Kubiak, S., & Cortina, L. M. (2003). Gender, victimization, and outcomes: Reconceptualizing risk. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 71, 528-539. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.71.3.528 [24] Powers, L. E., Curry, M. A., McNeff, E., Saxton, M., Powers, J. L., & Oschwald, M. (2008). End the silence: A survey of abuse against men with disabilities. Journal of Rehabilitation, 74, 41-53. [25] Quinney, R. (1974). Who is the victim? Criminology, 10, 314-323. doi:10.1111/j.1745-9125.1972.tb00564.x [26] Rand, M. R., & Harrell, E. (2009). Crime against people with disabilities, 2007. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics. [27] Sin, C. H., Hedges, A., Cook, C., Mguni, N., & Comber, N. (2009). Disabled people’s experiences of targeted violence and hostility. Manchester, UK: Equality and Human Rights Commission. [28] Snell, M. E., Luckasson, R., Borthwick-Duffy, W. S., Bradley, V., Buntinx, W. H., Coulter, D. L. et al. (2009). Characteristics and needs of people with intellectual disability who have higher IQs. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 47, 220-233. doi:10.1352/1934-9556-47.3.220 [29] Sobsey, D., & Doe, T. (1991). Patterns of sexual abuse and assault. Journal of Sexuality and Disability, 9, 243-259. doi:10.1007/BF01102395 [30] Sobsey, D. (1994). Violence and abuse in the lives of people with disabilities: The end of silent acceptance? Baltimore: Brooks Publishing Co. [31] Stone, E., & Priestley, M. (1996). Parasites, pawns, and partners: Disability research and the role of the non-disabled researchers. The British Journal of Sociology, 47, 699-716. doi:10.2307/591081 [32] Taylor, S. J., & Bogdan, R. C. (1990). Quality of life and the individual’s perspective. In R. L. Schalock (Ed.), Quality of life: Perspectives and issues (pp. 27-40). Washington, DC: American Association on Mental Retardation. [33] The Arc (2012). Intellectual disability. Washington, DC: Author. http://www.thearc.org/page.aspx?pid=2543 [34] US Department of Justice (2009). Hate crimes statistics. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice. http://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2009/victims.html [35] Wilson, C., & Brewer, N. (1992). The incidence of criminal victimization of individuals with an intellectual disability. Australian Psychologist, 27, 114-117. doi:10.1080/00050069208257591