Violence is any behavior that harms, intimidates, degrades, or endangers others or oneself.
It does not always involve physical acts like hitting or kicking—words, whether spoken or written, can also be forms of violence.

Every act of violence leaves consequences for the victim. Not all wounds are visible. Some are created through words, images, stickers, memes, and laughter in group chats—often dismissed as harmless jokes, yet quietly tearing apart someone’s sense of safety and self-worth.

In the digital era, sexual violence often appears in invisible forms. It is not always physical. It can take the shape of sexual comments, degrading jokes about someone’s body, objectification, or conversations that turn a person into entertainment.

This is where we must understand: verbal and digital sexual harassment is real violence.

 

Sexual Harassment Is Not Always Physical

We are often trapped in the belief that sexual violence is only serious when there is physical contact. In reality, psychologically, words can wound deeply.

Unwanted sexual comments, explicit jokes, sexually charged body shaming, or discussing someone as a sexual object are all forms of verbal and digital violence. Violence does not always touch the body—it can directly harm the mind.

 

Why It Often Happens in Groups

This behavior frequently emerges in group settings due to group dynamics.

When one person initiates a degrading joke and others laugh, agree, or add to it, the behavior begins to feel “normal.” This is known as group reinforcement.

Something wrong can feel acceptable when it is collectively validated. The more validation a group provides, the thinner a person’s moral boundaries become. Sometimes, people do not become harmful alone—but through a culture that allows it.

 

“It’s Just a Joke” Is Not Harmless

Common phrases often used include:

“It’s just a joke.”

“Don’t be so sensitive.”

“You’re overreacting.”

These statements are often used to disguise harmful behavior. Psychologically, this is known as moral disengagement—when individuals detach their actions from moral responsibility.

A joke stops being a joke when someone becomes the target. Humor that damages dignity is not humor—it is violence wrapped in laughter.

 

Psychological Impact on Victims

Victims of harassment—verbal, physical, sexual, or digital—can experience deep psychological harm. The severity of the impact is not determined by the form of the act, but by how the victim experiences it.

Victims may feel:

• humiliated
• degraded
• objectified
• unsafe

Psychologically, what is affected includes:

• self-esteem
• sense of safety
• trust in social environments
• body image and self-worth

Victims may repeatedly replay the incident in their minds (intrusive thoughts), which can develop into PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and affect many aspects of their future life.

When cases go viral, the impact often worsens. Victims may experience secondary trauma, as their experience becomes public consumption.

 

Impact on Daily Life

1. Academic Life

Victims may:

• struggle to focus
• feel afraid to attend classes
• experience a decline in academic performance

1. Social Relationships

Victims may:

• withdraw
• avoid others
• feel constantly judged

1. Self-Confidence

Victims may:

• feel ashamed
• blame themselves
• feel “dirty” or humiliated

What is most deeply affected is not only safety, but a person’s sense of worth.

“Victims do not only carry shame, but often carry the burden of blaming themselves.”

 

Supporting Victims: Psychological First Aid (PFA)

When someone becomes a victim, what they need first is not interrogation, but psychological first aid.

Look
Observe emotional conditions:

• crying
• shaking
• confusion
• withdrawal

Listen
Listen with empathy, without judgment.

Helpful responses:

• “I believe you.”
• “Your feelings are valid.”
• “You are not alone.”

Avoid:

• “Why didn’t you speak up?”
• “How could that happen?”
• “Don’t overthink it.”

Link
Connect them to support:

• trusted friends or family
• psychologists or psychiatrists
• campus or school counselors
• legal or institutional support

 

Why Do Perpetrators Do This?

Several psychological factors contribute:

1. Group Normalization

Deviant behavior becomes normalized in group settings.

1. Disinhibition Effect

People feel bolder online because they do not see the victim’s emotional response directly.

1. Objectification & Need for Validation

Motivated by:

• wanting to be funny
• seeking acceptance
• gaining social approval

1. Moral Disengagement

Justifying behavior with:

• “It’s just a joke”
• “It’s not serious”
• “It’s only a chat”

 

Prevention

Prevention must start with education. Teach:

• consent
• boundaries in humor
• empathy
• digital ethics
• respect for dignity

What is funny to one group can be traumatic to another. The best prevention is building empathy before harm occurs.

 

Role of Peers and Environment

The environment plays a crucial role.

What you can do:

• don’t laugh along
• call it out
• stop the conversation
• support the victim
• encourage reporting

Silence can be a form of agreement. Passive bystanders may unintentionally sustain harmful behavior.

 

Behavior Change in Perpetrators

Behavior change must address mindset and empathy.

From:
“It’s just a joke.”

To:
“This can hurt someone.”

Reflective question:

“What if this happened to someone you care about?”

Consequences must be clear:

• education
• counseling
• sanctions
• monitoring

Behavior changes when awareness meets consequences.

REFERENCES:

1. Bestari AP. Psychological impact of sexual violence and government efforts in making recovery. J Community Serv. 2021;6(2):1-9.

2. RAND Corporation. Psychological harms and treatment of sexual assault and sexual harassment. Santa Monica (CA): RAND; 2023.

3. Knipschild R, et al. A multidisciplinary framework for first aid after online sexual violence. BMC Public Health. 2025;25:11869328.

4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexual violence prevention resource for action. Atlanta (GA): CDC; 2024.