Thread by @wad3mullen

Abusers and their enablers might try to invent various scales to justify:

1. The abuse

and/or

2. The abuser

These scales are typically used when it is undeniable abuse has occurred and irrefutable that the abuser is at fault.

The goal is to escape any consequences. 1/8

Two of the many attempts to justify abuse are made using scales I've named the "victim scale" and the "injury scale."

The victim scale weigh's the survivor's background, attire, personality, past relationships, motives, and any other factor that might be used against them.

The goal of the "victim scale" is to manage the impressions others are forming until they conclude that the survivor is partly to blame, deserved it, isn't innocent in the matter, should have done something to prevent, etc.

The victim scale is tipped to say, "not a true victim."

The injury scale is used to give the impression that the abuse was not “really” abuse.

Attempts are made to suggest no serious harm was done and that too much is being made of it.

Abuse is minimized and concerns belittled, often enabled by those who choose to remain uninformed.

Two of the many attempts to justify the abuser use scales I've named:

1. The "culture scale."
2. The "history scale"

The "culture scale" weighs the abuser against the behaviors and values of the larger culture that they claim to be influenced by.

A male abuser might seek justification by suggesting his behavior was typical of "locker room" culture, or commonplace among a culture that viewed it acceptable for adult men to date underage teenage girls, or part of the generation he was born into, or that "boys will be boys."

The "history scale" weighs the abuser against past successes.

The abuser piles as much self-promotion onto the scale as possible so others conclude the abuse shouldn't be linked to their overall character, and that it would not be fair to penalize one "lapse in judgment."

Each of these scales are easily manipulated by the deceptive perpetrator or enabler who can tip the scale either agains the survivor to justify the abuse or for the abuser to justify the perpetrator.

These scales of deceit are tragically often accepted as scales of truth.

You can use these labels to help identify what types of justifications you hear.

Keep in mind, there are many other types of defenses abusers use (like excuses).

Survivors are too often not given the justice they deserve because abusers successfully use these different scales.