Victimisation

Question 1

What is Victimology?

Answer 1

the study of the victims of crime and the psychological effects of their experience - their needs were neglected for a long time and their usefulness not realised

Question 2

How does the UN (1985) define a victim?

Answer 2

a person who has suffered harm, regardless of whether the perp is identified/familial relationship

Question 3

Christie (1986): The ‘ideal victim’

Answer 3

Weak (female, very sick, very young or very old)
Blameless, innocent
Unrelated to the offender
Offender is the bad guy

Question 4

Victim Precipitation

Answer 4

claimed acts done by the victim that provoke the subsequent acts of the defendant. eg previous violence/theft

Question 5

BCS 2013-2014 showed…

Answer 5

7.3 million cases reported - 14% decrease from 2013

Question 6

Victimisation patterns

Answer 6

Uneven geographical and social distribution of crime ie. some areas have higher levels of crime
Also differences in; age, gender, ethnicity and social class

Question 7

The majority of victims are…

Answer 7

male, aged 17-24

Question 8

Routine Activities Theory

Answer 8

Cohen and Felson (1979):
Crime requires: 1) a likely offender 2) a suitable target
3) absence of capable guardians

Question 9

Importance of routine activities:

Answer 9

Proximity to high-crime areas ie. moving to a city
Exposure to criminal opportunities. daily routine/go out a lot at night
Target attractiveness ie. women for sexual crimes and young people are more likely victims generally
Guardianship

Question 10

Victimisation over the life course
(Wittebrood & Nieuwbeerta 2000)
Netherlands study

Answer 10

Previous victimization significantly increases the risk of subsequent victimisation by:

1. 7 times for burglary
2. 8 times for larceny, car theft, bicycle theft
3. 5 times for assault
4. 4 times for threat

Question 11

Changes over the life course means…

Answer 11

You are more vulnerable to certain types of crime at particular ages.

Question 12

Offender and Victim overlap - if you commit these crimes you are more likely to be a victim of them...
Routine activities theory 
(Cohen & Felson, 1979) 
Risky / deviant lifestyle 
‘Unstructured socializing’

Answer 12

Homicide 
Violence 
Dating violence and domestic violence 
Property crimes 
Vandalism

Question 13

Offender and Victim overlap - Jennings 2010
Low self-control
(Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990)

Answer 13

All individuals in high-victim group are delinquents but not all the delinquents are likely to be victims

Question 14

Lauritsen et al. (1991)

Delinquent adolescents are four times more likely to be victimised

Answer 14

Delinquent lifestyle increases risk of victimisation (assault, robbery, larceny, vandalism)

Question 15

Impacts of Victimisation

Answer 15

Physical impact - harmed/injured

Behavioural impact - change daily routine/lifestyle

Emotional and psychological impact

Financial impact - cost of replacing stolen goods/repairing damage etc (wider community too)

Fear of crime increased - family & friends too