Noun: defensive attribution
- A tendency to blame victims for their misfortune, so that one feels less likely to be victimized in a similar way
"The psychologist observed defensive attribution in people's reactions to news of a robbery"
Type of: ascription, attribution, defence [Brit, Cdn], defence mechanism [Brit, Cdn], defence reaction [Brit, Cdn], defense [US], defense mechanism [US], defense reaction [US]
Encyclopedia: Defensive attribution