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The term “vitriol” dates to medieval alchemy, but acid attacks as an organized form of violence emerged prominently during the (18th–19th centuries), when strong acids became widely available for industrial use. vitriolage
Perpetrators often choose acid because it serves a specific psychological purpose: In many cases, particularly those involving gender-based violence or rejected romantic advances, the attacker’s intent is not primarily to kill, but to "spoil." The logic of the perpetrator is rooted in a terrifying possessiveness: "If I cannot have you, no one shall want you." It is a punitive act designed to destroy the victim's social capital, their vanity, and their confidence. By destroying the face, the attacker attempts to destroy the person’s future, hoping to sentence them to a life of isolation and shame. : The term “vitriol” dates to medieval alchemy,
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