Control, Punishment and Victims

Question 1

What does Christie say about the ‘victim’? How does the media present the ‘ideal victim’?

Answer 1

That it is socially constructed

The ideal victim is a weak, innocent and blameless - like a small child or woman

Question 2

What are the two types of victimology?

Answer 2

positivist victimology

critical victimology

Question 3

What are the three features of positivists victimology?

Answer 3

• identify factors that produce patterns in victimization
• focuses on interpersonal crimes of violence
• identifies victims who have contributed to their own victimization

Question 4

What do some positivist victimological studies try to find?

Answer 4

The characteristics of victims that makes then more likely to be victims

Question 5

What are some evaluations of positivist victimology?

Answer 5

• ignores wider structural factors (poverty/patriarchy)
• can easily turn into victim blaming
• ignores situations where victims are unaware of their victimization (crimes against the environment)

Question 6

What is critical victimology based on?

Answer 6

Conflict theories like Marxist and Feminisms - shares the same approach as critical criminology

Question 7

What two elements does critical victimology focus on?

Answer 7

• Structural factors such as poverty & patriarchy

- The states power to apply/deny the label of victim

Question 8

What is an example of the state denying the label of victim?

Answer 8

When police decide not to charge a man for assaulting his wife, therefore denying her victim status

Question 9

What do Mawby and Walklate argue about victimization ?

Answer 9

Its a form of structural powerlessness

Question 10

What did Tombs and Whyte find in regards to safety crimes?

Answer 10

• often blamed on accident prone workers

- similarly with rape cases the victim is denied victim status and blamed

Question 11

What do Tombs and Whyte argue the ideological function of ‘de-labelling’?

Answer 11

Hides crimes of the powerful

Question 12

What are two evaluations of critical criminology?

Answer 12

• disregards the role victims may play (not locking doors)

- Focuses on the way that victim status is constructed by power

Question 13

What are social groups which can be unevenly victim of a crime?

Answer 13

• Class
• Age
• Ethnicity
• Gender
• Repeat victimization

Question 14

How many homeless people have been urinated on (out of ten)?

Answer 14

1/10