Chapter 2 Theories of victimization PDF

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Chapter 2: Extent, theories and factors of victimization Victimization theories  

Victimization theory- set of testable propositions designed to explain why a person is victimized Similar to criminology theories because of the connection between victimization and offending

Theories and Explanations 

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Link between victim and offender o Highest among young African American men o Most likely to live in urban areas o Offenders move about in riskier lifestyle- more prone to victimization Subculture of violence theory o Violence is a part of the value system for subgroups of the population and in certain regions of the country o Use violence in response in disrespect o Murder rates are higher in the south o Routine activity theory – physical coverage in time and space

Lifestyle theory 

Victimization more likely when one’s behavior/lifestyle puts them in vulnerable situations o Working out of the home/Engaging in leisure activities o Principle of homogamy  More frequent contact with person ~offenders, more likely to be victimized o Risky choices may be out of necessity (living in bad neighborhood; working night shift and taking bus home)

Structural and social process factors  

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Things within one’s environment can impact victimization Neighborhood context o “Hot spots”  Concentrated areas of crime Things within one’s environment can impact victimization Neighborhood context o “Hot spots” o Family structure  Female headed households o Structural density  % of units in structures o Residential mobility  % of persons living in a different house from 5 years before o Neighborhood cohesion Exposure to delinquent peers o Increases risk of engaging in delinquency and being victimized Family ties o Weak attachment family increases risk of victimization Social Learning Theory o Learn criminal behavior o Witness IPV as a children and experience as an adult Control-Balance Theory o Control surplus or deficit may lead to deviant behavior and victimization Social Interactionist Perspective o Contribution of stress to offending and victimization Gottfredson & Hirschi General Theory of Crime o Ineffective child-rearing practices - poor self-control  criminal acts or non-criminal acts that result in harm

Self- control theory  

Ages 6 to 7 develop self- control The General Theory of Crime o Low self-control contributes to offending and victimization  Inability to delay gratification  Risk taker who engages in thrill-seeking behavior  Short sighted without any clear long-term goals  Preference for physical over mental activity  Low frustration tolerance which results in a person being quick to anger  Insensitivity and self-centeredness – unable to exhibit empathy toward others o Suggests single cause to victimization

Life course perspective

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Development of offending over time o Age-graded Theory of Adult Social Bonds  People move in and out of criminal activity  Marriage and employment are factors that inhibit someone from committing crime and thus being at risk for victimization o Genes and Victimization  Certain neurotransmitters linked with criminal behavior  Gene X Environment interaction – genes interact with environment to shape behavior

Alcohol and victimization  

27.5% of victims in NCVS believed offender was under influence of alcohol Effects of Alcohol o Alcohol impedes inhibition (enhances vulnerability/suitable target) o Alcohol impedes one’s ability to protect oneself o Alcohol use may be a reason someone does not report a crime (loss of credibility)

How do you define feminism? 

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Feminist Criminology o Do theories of men’s crime apply to women?  Self-control theory, Routine Activity theory o How do we explain the fact women are less likely to commit crime? How do we explain the fact women are more likely to be victimized by someone they know?  Gender Gap  Gender comes to the forefront Liberal Feminism o Importance of equality of women with men in the existing political and social structure o Common cause of gender inequality:  Cultural attitudes with regard to gender role socialization Radical Feminism o Identifies male dominance and control as the cause of gender inequality o Male dominance must be eliminated from all social institutions o Core of women’s oppression:  Men’s control of women’s sexuality  Norms of heterosexuality Marxist Feminism o Women’s oppression as a function of class relations in a capitalist society o Women have lower crime rates because of marginalization in relation to means of production  Limited opportunities o Women are burdened twice  Low-wage jobs  Unpaid family responsibilities

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Social Feminism o Mix of Marxist and Radical feminism o Causes of gender inequality and women’s oppression:  Patriarchy and capitalism in public and private spheres  Example- Prostitution Third Wave Feminism o Object to:  White, Western feminist who defined “women’s issues” from their own standpoint o Intersectionality  Role of racism, sexism, class, bias, heterosexism and other forms of socially structured inequality ...