Module 5: Victimology

OVERVIEW

The criminal justice system spends the bulk of its time and energy trying to
control criminals. It was within this preoccupation of understanding criminal activity and
identifying the causes of criminal behavior that the victim was “rediscovered” in the
1940s. Interestingly, the victim emerged not as an individual worthy of sympathy or
compassion but as possible partner or contributor to his or own demise. Students of
criminal behavior began to look at the relationship between the victim and the offender
in the hopes of better understanding the genesis of the criminal act (Doerner & Lab,
2012).

LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Defined Victimology.
2. Identify the psychological effects of victimology;
3. Identify the different types of theories.

DISCUSSION
Identi

Victimology is a branch of criminology which examines the role played by the

victiim in a criminal incident. In simpler terms, it is the study of the victims of crime.

Of course, there is no way that a victim should be blamed for becoming one.
Every individual has the right to live and to be spared from the risks and harms of a
violent crime. Yet, the fact remains that to undestand the offender, one must first
understand the victim.

It was the scientist Hans von Hentig, a victim of Nazi persecution, who focused
criminologists’ attentionto the significance of the victim in criminal actovity. His book
The Criminal and His Victim may be said to have founded victimology as a new branch
of study,

Goals of Victimology

The study of victimology focuses on five goals:

1. To understand and measure the extent and nature of crime as victims perceive
them
2. To assess the relative risk of victimization

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3. To appreciate the nature and extent of losses, injuries, and damages
experienced by victims of crime
4. To study the relatio between victm and offender
5. To investigate the social reaction of the family, community, and society toward
the victim of crime.

General Classes of Victims (Hans von Hentig)

1. The Young – weak by virtue of age and immaturity

2. The Female – often less physically powerful than the male
3. The Old – incapable of physical defense, and the object of confidence
schemes
4. The Mentally Defective – unable to think clearly, e.g. the feeble – minded, the
Insane
5. The Immigrants – unsure of the rules of conduct in the surrounding society
6. The Minorities – Racial prejudice may lead to victimization or unequal
treatment
by the agencies of justice.
7. The Dull Normals – the simple – minded person, the “born victims of
swindlers”

Psychological Types of Victims (Hans von Hentig)

1. The Depressed – submissive by virtue of emotional condition.

2. The Acquisitive or Greedy – always wanting more looking for quick gains
2. The Wanton or Overly Sensual – ruled by passion and thoughtlessly seeking
pleasure, e.g. promiscious persons.
4. The Lonesome – similar ot the acquisitive type of victim by virtue of wanting
comanionships or affection
5. The Heartbroken – those suffering from heartaches and pain
6. The Tormentor – a victim who asked for it, often from his or her own family and
friends.

Victim Types (Benjamin Mendelsohn)

Another pioneer in the field of victimology was Benjamin Mendelsohn, a

European defense lawyer. In fact he has been coined this term. Mendelsohn, just like
von Hentig, was intrigued by the dynamic that takes place between victims and
offenders. HE came up with his own typology of victims with six categories:

1. Completely Innocent Victim – There is no provocation or facilitating behavior.

2. Victim with Minor guilt – Victim inadvertently places himself in a compromising
situation.

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3. Victim as Guilty as Offender – Victim was engaging in vice crimes and was hurt, e.g.
suicide victim.
4. Victim More Guilty Than Offender – Victim provoked or instigated the casual act.

Who Fear Crime?

Surveys reveal some of the differences in the public’s fear of crime. Among these
differences are the following:
 Gender – Females are more fearful than males.
 Race/Ethnicity – Nonwhites are more fearful than whites.
 Age – People 30 years old and older are slightly more fearful than people less
than 30 years old.
 Religion – Jews are more fearful than Protestants or Catholics.
 Community – People living in urban areas more fearful than people living in rural
araes.
 Region – Easterners and Southerners are more fearful than Westerners and
Midwesterners.
 Education – The higher the level of education of a person, the lower is the
person’s fear of crime.
 Income - Fear of crime victimization declines with increasing family income.

Theories of Victimization

For many years criminological theories focused onn the actions of the criminal
offender; the role of the vicim was virtually ignored. In contrast, modern victimization
theoreis already acknowledge that the victim is not as passive target in crime, but
someone whose behavior can influence hir or her own fate.

1. Victim Precipitation Theory – According to this view, some people may actually
initiate the confrontation that eventually leads to their injury or death. Victim precipitation
can be either active or passive. Active precipitation occurs when victims act
provacatively, use threats or fighting words, or even attack first. Passive precipitation,
on th eother hand, occurs when the victim exhibits some personal characteristics that
unknowingly threaten or encourage the attacker. The crime can occur because of
personal conflict – for example, when two people compete over a job, promotion, love
interest, or some other scarce and in demand commodity.

2. Lifestyle Theory – According to this theory, people may become crime victims
because their lifestyle incraeses their exposure to criminal offenders. Victimization risk
is incraesed by such behaviors as associating with young men, going out in public
places late at night, and living in an urban area. Conversely, one’s chances of
victimization to a rural area, staying out of public places, earning more money, and
getting married. People who have high risk lifestyles – drinking, taking drugs, and
getting involved in crime – maintain a much greater chance of victimization. For
example, young runaways are at high risk for victimization; the more time they are
exposed to street life, the greater their risk of becoming crime victims.

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During an investigation, victims are classified in three general categories that

describe the level of risk their lifestyle represents in relation to the violent crime that has
been committed. The importance of understanding this in an investigation is directly
related back to the level of risk to the offender during the commission of the crime. This
information is important to the investigation to better understand the sophistication or
possible pathology of the offender.

 High – Risk Victims – Victims in this group have a lifestyle that makes them a
higher risk for being a victim of a violent crime. The most obvious high risk victim
is the prostitue. Prostitutes place themselves at risk every single time they go to
work. They are of high risk because they get into a stranger’s car, got ot
secluded areas with strangers, and for the most part, attempt to conceal their
actions for legal reasons. Offenders often rely on all these factors and specifically
target prostitutes because such conditions lower their chacnes of becoming
suspects in the crime. Therefore, in this example, the prostitute is a high risk
volume crating a lower risk to the offender.
 Moderate – Risk Victims – Victims that fall into this category are lower risk
victims, but for some reason were in a situation that palced them in a greater
level of risk. A person that is stranded on a dark, secluded highway due to a flat
tire and accepts a ride from a stranger and is then victimized, would be a good
example of this type of victim level risk.
 Low – Risk Victim – The lifestyle of these individuals would normally not place
them in any degree of risk for becoming a victim of a violent crime. These
individuals stay out of trouble, do not have peers that are criminal, are aware of
their surroundings, and attempt to take precautionns so as not to be victimized.
They lock the doors, do not use drugs, and do not go into areas that are dark and
secluded.

The chart follows shows variables that should be considered when gathering
information on a victim.
Gender/Age Interpersonal Life Lifestyle: Habits,
Relationships: Social, Insurrance? Frequented
Sexual, Family Locations,
Economic Status
Risk Level How would the victim Mental Physical Handicaps
react to an attack? Stability
Passive/Aggressive?
Future Plans Employment/Income Personality Previous
Victimization
Family/Marital Friends: Number & Education Alcohol/ Drug Use
Status Type - Enemies
Normal Dress Mode of Medical Criminal Justice
Style Transportation History System History
Leisure Dating/Sexual Habits Reputation Likes/Dislikes/
Activities/Hobbies Fears

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Source:http://www.deviantcrimes.com/victimology.thml

After all the information has been gathered, a timeline events leading up to the
crime should be created in order to better understand how this specific individual
became a victim of a violent crime.

3. Deviant Place Theory – According to this theory, victims do not encourage crime but
are victim – prone because they reside in socially disorganized high – crime areas
where they have the greatest risk of coming into contact with criminal offenders.

4. Routine Activity Theory – This theory was first articulated by Lawrence Cohen and
Marcus Felson. They conducted that the volume and distribution of predatory crime
(violent crimes against a person and crimes in which an offender attempts to steal an
object directly) are closely related to the interaction of three variables that reflect the
routine activities:
 The availability of suitable targets, such as homes containing easily saleable
goods.
 The absence of capable guardians, such as police, homeowners, neighbors,
friends and relatives
 The presence of motivated offenders, such as a large number of unemployed
teenagers.

Psychological Effects of Victimization

Research in America suggested that crime victims can suffer any of the following
reactions: (Kahn, 1984 as cited by Ainsworth, 2000)
 Depression (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder);
 Anxiety;
 Paranoia;
 Loss of control;
 Shame;
 Embarrassment;
 Vulnerability;
 Helplessness;
 Humiliation;
 Anger;
 Shock;
 Feelings of inequality;
 Increased awareness of mortality;
 Tension; and
 Fear

Other factors of crime to victims include loss, suffering, fear (fear for others),
obsessive – compulsive disorder (extreme preoccupation with certain thoughts and
compulsive performance of certain behaviors), and antisocial behavior. Also, there is

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growing evidence that people who are crime victims also seem more likely to commit
crime themselves.

Services Provided to Victims

Being at their most vulnerable state after the crime experience, the victims are in
need of some support to easily cope. Some of the services provided to them include:
 Assistance to victims who report crimes
 Responding at the scene of crime in order to provide crisis counseling
 Providing 24 – hour telephone hot – line service to victims and witnesses
 Making emergency monetary aid available to victims
 Providing victims with referral services to appropriate agencies
 Helping victims obtain the return of property
 Assisting victims and witnesses throughout their court appearances

LET US ASSESS
ACTIVITY 01

ACTIVITY I.
Read the statement or question very carefully. Write the letter of your answer.

1. He coined the term victimology, through which he earned the title, “father” of this sub
– discipline of criminology.
a. Hans von Hentig c. Benjamin Mendelsohn
b. Cesare Lombroso d. Andre Michel Guerry
2. This scientist wrote the book The Criminal and His Victim, which paved the way to
understanding the victim’s role in crime occurrence.
a. Andre Michel Guerry c. Cesare Lombroso
b. Hans von Hentig d. Benjamin Mendelsohn
3. These victims are unsure of rules of conduct in the surrounding society.
a. The Immigrants c. The Dull Normals
b. The Mentally Defective d. The Young
4. Promiscuous persons would fall under this victim typology.
a. The Dull Normals c. The Depressed
b. The Tormentor d. The Wanton
5. They are often victims of racial prejudice or unequal treatment by the agencies of
justice.
a. The Minorities c. The Immigrants
b. The Dull Normals d. The Acquisitive
6. These victims are always wanting for more and looking for quick gains.
a. The Lonesome c. The Acquisitive
b. The Wanton d. The Tormentor
7. Widows or widowers would belong to this victim category.
a. The tormentor c. The Wanton

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b. The Acquisitive d. The Lonesome
8. They are incapable of physical defense and the object of confidence schemes.
a. The Female c. The Mentally Defective
b. The Young d. The Old
9. Suicide victims are of this type.
a. Most Guilty Victim c. Victim with Minor Guilt
b. Completely Innocent Victim d. Victim as Guilty as Offender
10. There is no provocation of facilitating behavior on the part of this victim.
a. Imaginary Victim c. Completely Innocent Victim
b. Victim with Minor guilt d. Victim as Guilty as Offender
11. This type of victim places himself in a compromising situation.
a. Victim with Minor Guilt c. Victim as Guilty as Offender
b. Completely Innocent Victim d. Imaginary Victim
12. When the victim provoked or instigated the causal act, he is classified as what victim
type?
a. Most Guilty Victim c. Victim with Minor Guilt
b. Victim More Guilty Than Offender d. Victim as Guilty as Offender
13. What type of victim is one who started off as the offender and was hurt in return?
a. Victim More Guilty Than Offender c. Victim as Guilty as Offender
b. Most Guilty Victim d. victim with Minor Guilt
14. At times, the victim is one who asked for the act, often from relatives and friends.
What type of victim is this?
a. The Tormentor c. The Mentally Defective
b. The Wanton d. The Acquisitive
15. Anger, jealousy or destructive impulses increase chances of being victimized. What
type of characteristics does this exemplify?
a. Target Vulnerabilty c. Target Antagonism
b. Target Gratifiability d. Target Hostility
16. Drinking, taking drugs and getting involved in crime increase a person’s exposure to
offenders. This is based on what victimization theory?
a. Victim Precipitation Theory c. Deviant Place Theory
b. Lifestyle Theory d. routine Activity Theory
17. Victim’s physical weakness or psychological distress renders him incapable of
resisting or deterring crime. This typifies what type if victim characteristics?
a. Target Vulnerability c. Target Antagonism
b. Target Gratifiability d. Target Hostility
18. Some victims have possessions, skills, or attributes that an offender wants to obtain,
use, have access to, or manipulate. This refers to:
a. target Antagonism c. Target Gratifiability
b. Target Hostility d. Target Vulnerability
19. According to this theory, victims do not encourage crime but are prone to
victimization because they reside in socially disorganized high – crime areas where they
have the greatest risk of coming into contact with criminal offenders.
a. Victim Precipitation View c. Deviant Place Theory
b. Lifestyle Theory d. routine Activity Theory

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20. These individuals stay out of trouble, do not have peers that are criminal, are aware
of their surroundings, and attempt to take precautions so as not to become victims.
a. Low – Risk Victims c. High Risk Victims
b. Moderate – Risk Victims d. Extremely High – Risk Victims
21. According to this view, some people may actually initiate confrontation that
eventually leads to their injury or death.
a. Victim Precipitation Theory c. Routine Activity Theory
b. Routine Activity Theory d. Lifestyle Theory
22. A person that is stranded on a dark, secluded highway due to a flat tire, and accepts
a ride from a stranger would be a good example of this type of victim level risk.
a. High – Risk Victims c. Extremely High – Risk Victims
b. Moderate – Risk Victims d. Low – Risk Victims
23. This theory asserts that there are three variables of victimization – the availability of
suitable targets, the absence of capable guardians, and the presence of motivated
offenders.
a. Deviant Place Theory c. Routine Activity Theory
b. Victim Precipitation Theory d. Lifestyle Theory
24. Which of the following can be considered a high – risk potential victim?
a. A person stranded on a dark, secluded highway due to flat tire, and accepts a
ride from a stranger
b. A person who takes all precautions, such as locking doors
c. A prostitute
d. All of these
25. The following are findings of most victimization studies, except:
a. Males are more likely than females to suffer violent crimes
b. young people face a much greater victimization risk than to older persons
c. Nonwhites are more fearful of crime than whites
d. The higher the level of education of a person, the higher is the person’s fear of
crime.

REFERENCES

References:

1. www.scribd.com/document.ph
2. Armando A. Alviola, PhD Crim., Educ. Mngt. Introduction to Criminology and
Psychology of Crimes

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