Victimology Flashcards
Definitions
UN - those who have suffered harm (mental physical emo econ impairment of basic rights) thro acts that violate laws of state
Christie (1986) = soc construction - stereo of ideal vic fav by media public & CJS = weak innocent & blameless
Positivist Victimology
focus of victim proneness - seek to iden soc & psycho charas of vics that make them dif / m vuln than non vics
eg female, elderly, mentally subnormal
Miers (1989)
Positivist Victimology
aims to identify factors that produce a pattern of vic - esp those making m likely to = vic
focuses on interpersonal crimes of violence
aims to iden vics who have contrib to own vic
Wolfgang (1958)
Positivist Example
studied 588 homicides - 26% involved victim precipitation - vic triggered events leading to homicide eg by starting violence - male victims female perpertrator
Evaluation of Positivist Victimology
Brookman (2005) Wolfgang shows NBance of vic-offen relas & fact in mnay cases = chance person = vic
idens patterns of interpersonal vic but ignores wide struc factors
can = vic blaming - Amir (1971) claims 1in5 rapes = victims precipitated = X dif from saying asking for it
ignores situs where vics = unaware, crimes against environ & where = no harm
Critical Victimology
based on conflict theories - Marxism & Feminism
1. Structural Factors - patriarchy & poverty - place powerless groups at risk of vic - Mawby & Walklate (1994) vic = form of structural powerlessness
2. States power to apply/deny vic label - = soc construc thro CJS = applied / withheld eg police decide not to label woman beaten by husband therefore not vic
Tombs & Whyte (2007)
Critical Victimology
safety crimes - employ violation of laws causing death / injury = explained away by w’s accident - rape case - women have to prove innocence X mens guilt - ideo func of failure to label = to conceal true nature of vic & causes - vulnerable = m likely to = vic
Evaluation of Critical Victimology
disregards role vic plays in bringing vic on selves thro own choices - not making home secure / own offen
valuable in bringing atten to way vic status = construc by power & how bens powerful at expen of powerless
Class
WC m likely to = vic - those in poorest 20% of areas face much higher risk of household crime
Newburn & Rock (2006) survey 300 homeless = 12x m likely to experience violence - 1in10 urinated on
Age
lifestyles mean young m likely to commit & be vic
2012-13 CSEW found being vic dec w/ age - 16-24 = 9x m likely than 75+ but 50+ m likely to worry about being vic
survey found 6% of 10-15 yr olds = vic of violent crime/ theft
Gender
CSEW shows women m likely to worry about being vic of burglary / violence but males 16-24 = 50% m likely to = vics of violence
dec w/ age - certain types of crime women m likely to = vics - dv, rape & men = less likely to report
Ethnicity
EMGs at higher risk of vic & have inc worry
m likely to experience racial abuse, honour crimes & forced mar
2% homocides 2007-10 = EMGs
2012-13-2014-15 survey estis = 106000 incidents of racially motivated crime
Impact of Victimisation
Hayle (2012) disrupted sleep, feelings of helplessness, inc security conciousness & difs in soc func depending on crime
may also create indirect vics - friends & fam & witnesses - Pynoos et al (1987) child witness to sniper attack contin to have grief rela dreams & altered behav yr later
Secondary Victimisation
idea that indus may suffer further vic by CJS
fems - rape vics often so poorly treated by courts & polic = double violation
Fear of Victimisation
crime may create fear of becoming vic - surveys often show this fear to to = irrational eg women scared of going out but men m likely to be attacked - fems attack says focuses on womens passivity - should = safety
