Victimology

Question 1

What is a victim ?

Answer 1

Those who have suffered harm through acts or omissions that violate the laws of the state

Question 2

What are the 3 features of positivist victimology Miers (1989) describes ?

Answer 2

Aims to identify the factors that produce patterns in victimisation​

Focuses on interpersonal crimes of violence ​

Aims to identify victims who have contributed to their own victimisation ​

Question 3

What are the 2 elements conflict theories and critical criminology have in common ?

Answer 3

Structoral factors

The states power to deny or apply the label of victim to someone

Question 4

What are the patterns of victimisation ?

Answer 4

Class – poorest groups are more likely to be victimised ​

Age – younger people are at more risk of victimisation​

Gender – males are at greater risk than females of becoming victims of violent attacks ​

Ethnicity – minority ethnic groups are at a greater risk than whites of being victims of crime​

Repeated victimisation – if you have been a victim once, you are likely to be one again ​

Question 5

What is the impact of victimisation ?

Answer 5

Disrupted sleep, feelings of helplessness, increased security-consciousness, and difficulties functioning socially ​

Question 6

What did Pynoos et al (1987) find ?

Answer 6

He found that child witnesses of a sniper attack continued to have grief-related dreams and altered behaviour a year after the event​