The Architecture of Injustice: A Qualitative Exploration of Attributed Cruelty, Wrongful Accusation, and the Fragmentation of the Self

Abstract

Wrongful accusation and attributed cruelty represent profound assaults on human identity, with psychological, social, and cultural consequences that persist far beyond the immediate event. This qualitative study examines the interplay between the harm‑inflicting agent and the target of injustice, focusing on how systemic, social, and individual mechanisms intersect to perpetuate harm. Narrative cinema was analysed alongside empirical studies of wrongful conviction, social stigma, and systemic abuse. Using thematic analysis, five key themes emerged: systemisation as colonisation, social branding, behavioural paralysis and silencing, adaptive coping strategies, and the central role of social validation in identity reconstruction. Findings indicate that while adaptive strategies aid survival, full recovery requires explicit recognition of narrative truth by society. This study contributes a multi‑level framework for understanding how systemic injustice shapes the psyche and highlights pathways for victim recovery and resilience. Critical engagement with counterarguments, including the potential for false victimhood narratives and the limits of cinematic analogy, strengthens the analysis.