ABSTRACT
Most crime victims experience a severe assault on the self. This chapter is concerned with an especially prevalent vicissitude of the self that occurs following victimization—the phenomenon of splitting. The splits in self-image that many victims undergo can be conceptualized as taking place on three levels: unconscious self-images and conscious self-images which concur with either traditional societal or zeitgeist values. Feminist-based community-oriented victims' services involved in multiple aspects of reparation to the damaged self constitute a prime example of the zeitgeist level as it affects victims. Two clinical vignettes are presented to illustrate how victims struggle to integrate the splits between the unconscious and conscious self-images to achieve a more satisfactory cohesive self. This chapter examines the phenomenon of splitting of the self-image following victimization. The splits in the victim's self image are conceptualized as occurring on three primary levels: unconscious self images, traditional societal level, and zeitgeist level.
