Abuse Quote by Judith Lewis Herman
“In order to escape accountability for his crimes, the perpetrator does everything in his power to promote forgetting. If secrecy fails, the perpetrator attacks the credibility of his victim. If he cannot silence her absolutely, he tries to make sure no one listens.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Trauma and Recovery, 1992
Perpetrators evade accountability by promoting forgetting, attacking victims’ credibility, and silencing them when secrecy fails.
In simple terms: Abusers hide crimes by erasing memory and discrediting victims.
Key Takeaway
Support victims and expose truth.
Themes
accountability
victim silencing
memory
truth
Mood
serious
empathetic
Type
legal
psychological
When to use this quote
- therapy
- legal advocacy
- media reporting
Key Concepts
psychology
law
social justice
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies protect victim narratives?
- What mechanisms deter silencing tactics?
A Different Perspective
Denial can persist despite evidence.
