Over the past two decades, police authorities, federal prosecutors, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have investigated serious allegations against Jeffrey Epstein, an American financier suspected of involvement in a network of child sexual exploitation and trafficking. In early February, the public was shaken by the large-scale disclosure of explicit documents detailing systemic sexual crimes disclosed by United States law enforcement agencies, including the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).
Clinical Psychologist at the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FK-KMK UGM), Dr. Indria Laksmi Gamayanti, explained that systemic crimes are deeply traumatic and operate in subtle, manipulative ways, leaving victims unaware that they are being exploited.
“These systemic crimes are extremely traumatic and oppressive for children. Indeed, at first, the children may not realize that they have become entangled in criminal acts, but over time, feelings of helplessness and prolonged distress inevitably emerge. As a result, long-term trauma develops,” she said on Monday (Feb. 18).
According to Dr. Gamayanti, the courage of victims to speak out, often only after many years, cannot be separated from the prolonged psychological pressure they have endured.
This situation causes some victims to lose their sense of self-worth, question their identity, and even feel they have no right to share their experiences.
In addition, perpetrators’ manipulative approaches frequently create unconscious emotional dependence and attachment. This dependency makes victims fearful of losing figures who have become embedded in their lives.
In several cases, awareness that such treatment constitutes violence only emerges when victims begin to rediscover their identity and personal boundaries.
“Victims often dare to speak only after years have passed because they have endured psychological pressure for too long, losing their self-esteem and even doubting their identity and right to speak. Perpetrators frequently build emotional dependence and attachment without the victims realizing it, making them afraid of losing that figure. In many cases, they only recognize that the treatment was wrong once they begin to reclaim their sense of identity,” she explained.
Dr. Gamayanti noted that exploitative behavior committed by adult men has correlations with the victims’ development and future. From a psychological perspective, traumatic experiences that are not properly addressed can shape complex behavioral patterns and dynamics.
“If they do not immediately receive proper psychological treatment and the behavior is repeated, it is possible that later in adulthood they could become perpetrators themselves. That is our greatest concern,” she stated.
She emphasized that these traumatic cycles must be broken through comprehensive intervention. For her, the trauma experienced by victims is not merely a reminder of horrific events but internal conflict stored in the subconscious.
She added that the dynamics that may arise when victims eventually become perpetrators are not simply imitative behavior, but rather internalized experiences embedded in the subconscious that unconsciously manifest as harmful conduct.
“The dynamic is not imitation. Instead, the unpleasant treatment creates inner conflict and becomes embedded in the subconscious. On one hand, they dislike it, yet it turns into an unconscious drive that reemerges later,” she explained.
Dr. Gamayanti also described that when traumatic experiences are brought back into public discourse, victims may experience revictimization, a condition in which traumatic events feel as though they are happening all over again.
“For victims, when such events are brought up again, it can feel like revictimization, as if the event is repeating itself. Re-traumatization makes it seem as though they are experiencing it again. This is extremely heavy for them,” she said.
She added that not all victims have the mental readiness to openly disclose their experiences. Feelings of shame and social pressure can intensify the psychological burden they carry.
“They may feel ashamed; not everyone is strong enough to declare themselves openly,” she noted.
Nevertheless, Dr. Gamayanti stressed the importance of handling such cases wisely and from a victim-centered perspective. She reminded that failing to disclose cases altogether carries the risk of broader consequences.
“However, if this is not revealed, the case may expand and lead to many other impacts,” she concluded.
Author: Zabrina Kumara Putri
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Jasmine Ferdian
Illustration: Freepik