Hate Crime - Psychological Effects

Psychological Effects

Hate crimes can have significant and wide-ranging psychological consequences, not only upon the direct victim but on others as well. A manual issued by the Attorney-General of the Province of Ontario in Canada lists the following consequences:

• effects on people – psychological and affective disturbances; repercussion on the victim's identity and self-esteem; both reinforced by the degree of violence of a hate crime, usually stronger than that of a common one.

• effect on the targeted group – generalized terror in the group to which the victim belongs, inspiring feelings of vulnerability over the other members, who could be the next victims.

• effect on other vulnerable groups – ominous effects over minority groups or over groups that identify themselves with the targeted one, especially when the referred hate is based on an ideology or doctrine that preaches simultaneously against several groups.

Being the victim of a hate crime can also cause depression.