Welcome to

presentation
on
Theories of
Victimization
Mohammed Jahirul Islam
 Theories of Victimization
 Role of victim (Hans Von Hentig-1940s)
 Victim’s responsibility in the ‘Genesis of Crime’
(Stephen Schafer )

Theories of Victimization
Victim Precipitation Theories Lifestyle Theories Routine Activities Theories
(Marvin Wolfgang) (Gary Jensen, David Brownfield) (Lawrence Cohen, Marcus Felson)
 Victim Precipitation Theory
Precipitation: Some people may actually initiate the confrontation that eventually
leads to their injury/death.
Ex: Homicide, Rape, Simple assault

Precipitation: Active precipitation Vs Passive precipitation

Active precipitation: Active precipitation occurs when victims act provocatively
use threats or ‘fighting words’ or even attack first.
“Victim precipitated” is applied to those criminals homicides in
which victim is a direct , positive precipitator in the crime (Marvin
Wolfgang,1958 ), 150 or 26% out of 588 homicides
Medium: Physical force, By using Slang words, Seductiveness,
Wearing sexy dress
Ex: Homicide, Date Rape
Passive precipitation: Passive precipitation occurs when the victim exibits some
personal characteristics that unknowingly threatens or
encourages the attacker.
Causes: Personal conflict (Get job, promotion, love interest,
scarce commodity), Reputation, Power

Ex: Hate crime, Terrorism

 Lifestyle Theories
People may become crime victims because they have a lifestyles (High risk
lifestyles) that increases their exposure to criminal offenders, ex: assault by
delinquent friends
Lifestyles: Staying single and Public places at late night, association with
young men, urban residence, Homeless population (mental
hospitalization, depression, physical harm )---UCR, NCVS

Equivalent Group Hypothesis (Same age, same criminal Group, Victim- offender
association), ex; Juvenile Delinquency, Gang or Mafia
Proximity Hypothesis: ‘ Wrong places in the wrong time’; close proximity to
crime zone; Where one lives than how one lives

Deviant Place hypothesis (Natural areas for crime) :

1. poor areas, densely populated, highly transient neighborhood ( Rodney Stark)
2. Racial and social composition of an areas ( Wiliam Julias Wilson)

3. Victim lifestyle and place of domicile interact ( Rountree, Land & Tarence Miethe )

Routine Activities Theory
Theorist: Lawrence Cohen, Marcus Felson
 Assumption: Motivation to crime is constant
 Variable: Motivated Offenders, Lack of Capable
Guardians, Suitable Targets

Motivated Offenders
•Teenage Boys
•Unemployed
•Addict population

CRIME
Lack of Capable Guardian
Suitable Targets
•Police Officers •Easily transportable goods
•Homeowners •Expensive Cars
•Security Systems •Unlocked Homes
 Victimization Theories
Theory Major Premises
Victim Victims triggers criminals act by their
provocative behavior. Active
Precipitation precipitation involves fighting words or
gestures. Passive precipitation occurs
when victims unknowingly threatens
attacker.
Victimization risks is increased when people
Lifestyle have high risk lifestyle. Placing oneself at risk by
going out to dangerous places results in
increased victimization. Explain victimization
patterns in the social structure. Male, young
people and the poor have high victim rates
because they have a higher risk lifestyle than
female, the elderly and the effluent.
Equivalent Group Criminals and victims are one and the same.
Both crime and Victimization is part of a high
Hypothesis risk lifestyle
People who live in deviant places are at high risk to crime.
Proximity Victim behavior has little influence over the criminal act
Hypothesis
Crimes can be explained by the
Routine availability of suitable targets, the
Activities absents of capable guardians, and
the presence of motivated offenders.
Strengths
Explain multiple victimizations. If people
precipitate crime, it follows that they will become
repeat victims if their behavior persists over time.
Victimization risks is increased when people have high risk
lifestyle. Placing oneself at risk by going out to dangerous
places results in increased victimization. Explain
victimization patterns in the social structure. Male, young
people and the poor have high victim rates because they have
a higher risk lifestyle than female, the elderly and the
effluent.
Shows that the conditions that create criminality also produce
high victimization risk. Victims may commit crime out of a
need for revenge or frustration.
Places the focus of crime on deviant places. Shows why
people with conventional lifestyles become crime victims.
Can explain crime rates and trends. Shows how
victim behavior can influence criminal opportunity.
Suggests that victim risk can be reduced by
increasing guardianship and/or reducing target
Thanks to all