How much responsibility does the victim hold?

If you deliberately put yourself in the way of harm, knowing what can happen, are you responsible if you get hurt?

It seems to me like it is pretty common for people to believe that “she shouldn’t have been there in the first place. No wonder she got raped.” Or “he had no business being in that neighborhood. No wonder her got mugged.” Or, “she chose to do reporting in the war zone. She knew what the risks were when she died.”

First of all, why do we do this instead of just fully blaming the people who committed the rapes, muggings and murders? Why is there even any discussion at all of the culpability of the victim? What is that all about?

Second, in your opinion, does the victim hold any blame? If so, how much? What is the meaning of their responsibility for being hurt? Does that mean they are stupid?

Third, when we blame the victim, why, emotionally speaking, do we do that? Are we seeking to relieve some guilt of our own? Are we angry at the victim for getting hurt? Frustrated that there was nothing we could do? Why do we blame victims (when we do blame victims—not everyone does).