VICTIMOLOGY

VICTIMOLOGY
* Victima (Latin)- victim
* Logos (Greek) – a system of knowledge
The branch of criminology that scientifically studies the relationship between an
injured party and an offender by examining the causes and the nature of the
consequent suffering.
It focuses on whether the perpetrators were complete strangers, mere
acquaintances, friends, family members, or even intimates and why a particular
person was targeted.
Criminal victimization may inflict economic costs, physical injuries and
psychological harm.
Criminal Victims
Could be key actors in the criminal justice process.
Becomes the FORGOTTEN PERSON of the CJS while the criminal
is the celebrity.
Victims are only valued for their capacity to report crimes and to
appear in court as witnesses.

Victim Blaming
A phenomenon where the victims of crimes are held accountable
for what happened to them.
It allows people to believe that such events could never happen to
them.
First Generation: Early Victimologists

 A. Benjamin Mendelsohn
- Father of Victimology
- believes that most victims had an “unconscious
aptitude for being victimized”.
B. Hans Von Hentig
- wrote an article about the victim – criminal
interaction
- Concept of “Victim blaming”
 C. Marvin Wolfgang
- 26% of homicides result from victim precipitation.
3 Factors Common to Victim- precipitated Homicides
1. The victim and offender had some prior interpersonal
relationship.
2. There was an escalating disagreements between the
parties.
3. The victim had consumed alcohol.
 D. Stephen Scafer
- “ Functional Responsibility”
E. Manachen Amir
 Took the first studies of rape
Victims are Precipitate by such factors:
1. Seductive actions by the victim
2. The victims wearing of revealing clothing
3. The use of alcohol by both parties
Theories Of Victimization
1. Victim Precipitation
The person who suffers eventual harm from a crime plays a
direct role in causing the crime to be perpetrated.
It occurs when the offender’s action is committing or
beginning to commit a crime is initiated after and directly related
to an action (be it physical, verbal, conscious or unconscious) on
the part of the victim.
a. Active Precipitation
Occurs when victim acts provocatively, use threats or fighting words, or even
attack first.
When female victims dress provocatively or pursuing relationships with a rapist.
b. Passive Precipitation
Occurs when the victims exhibit some personal characteristics that unknowingly
either threatens or encourages the attacker.
The crime can occur because of personal conflict - when two people compete for a
job, promotions, love interests

2. Lifestyle or Exposure Theory

Victimization depends heavily upon the concept of life style.
Victims put themselves in danger by engaging in high-risk activities
3. Routine Activities Theory
Developed by Marcus Felson and Lawrence Cohen
A pool of motivated offenders exists, and these offenders will take advantage of
unguarded, suitable targets.
Elements:
a. A likely offender
b. A suitable target
c. The absence of a capable guardian
4. Deviant Place Theory
Victims are prone to victimization because one resides in a socially disorganized
high-crime area.
Deviant places include poor densely populated area, highly transient
neighborhoods, and commercial areas with residential property in close proximity.
General Classes of Victims
(Based on the classification of Hans Von Hentig)

1. The Young - the weak by virtue and immaturity

2. The Female – often less physically powerful and easily dominated by males.
3. The Old – the incapable of Physical defense and the common object of
confidence scheme.
4. The Mentally Defective – those that are unable to think clearly.
5. The Immigrant – those that are unsure of the rules of conduct in the
surrounding society.
6. The Minorities – racial prejudice may lead to victimization or unequal treatment
by the agency of justice.
Psychological Types of Victims

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

2. The Acquisitive or Greedy – person who wants more than what is
sufficient makes a natural victim of crime.
3. The Wanton or Overly Sensual - a person ruled by passion and
thoughtlessly seeking pleasure.
4. The Lonesome – person who eventually becomes a victim by virtue of
wanting companionship or affection
5. The Heartbroken – one who is emotionally disturbed by virtue of
heartaches and pains.
6. The Tormented – a victim who asked for it, often from his own family or
friend.
Other Types of Victims

Benjamin Mendelsohn, a European defense attorney created his own classification of

victim types. This includes the following six categories:

1. The completely innocent victim – such a person is an ideal victim in popular

perception. In this category placed persons victimized while they were unconscious, and
the child victims.
2. Victims with only minor guilt and those victimized due to ignorance.
3. The victim who guiltier than the offender – this category was described as
containing persons who provoked the criminal or actively induced their own
victimization.
4. The most guilty victim “who is guilty alone” – an attacker killed by a would be
victim in the act of defending themselves were placed in this category.
5. The imaginary victim – those suffering from mental disorders, or those victims due
to extreme mental abnormalities.
PENAL COUPLE
Penal Couple is a term that describes the relationship between the victim and the
criminal.

VICTIMAL
Describes the victim, counterpart of criminal.

VICTIMITY
It signified the opposite of criminality.

LOSER
One who is initially the attacker but later, the situation is reversed.
Dynamics of Victimization
A. Victims of Crime Model (by Bard and Sangrey).
According to this model, there are three stages involved in any victimization.
1. Stage of Impact and Disorganization
- during and immediately following the criminal event.
- Depicts the attitude or activity of the victim
- during and immediately following the event
2. Stage of Recoil
– during which the victim formulates psychological defenses and deals with
conflicting emotions of guilt, anger, acceptance and desire of revenge (3-8mon).

3. Reorganization Stage
– during which the victim puts his or her life back to normal daily living.
B. Disaster Victim’s Model
This model was developed to explain the coping behavior of victims of natural
disaster. According to this model, there are four stages of victimization:
1. Pre-impact
– the stage which describes the victim’s condition prior to being victimized.
2. Impact
– the stage at which victimization occurs.
3. Post-impact
– the stage which entails the degree and duration of personal and social
disorganization following victimization.
4. Behavioral Outcome
– the stage that describes the victim’s adjustment to the victimization
experience.
Factors of Victimization
1. Hedonism
2. Materialistic Culture
3. Sex Values
4. Decay of discipline
5. Public morality

Other factors of Victimization:

1. Provocation
2. Instigation – encourage a criminal to take action
3. Facilitation – victim places himself at risk
4. Vulnerability or invitation
5. Cooperation – victim is a party to a consensual crime (public order crime)
6. Attractiveness
7. Impunity – victim did not report the crime
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