CRJU 4430 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Victim Blaming, Victimology
Document Summary
The number of victim facilitated motor vehicle thefts has decreased because people are (cid:271)e(cid:272)o(cid:373)i(cid:374)g (cid:373)ore (cid:858)(cid:272)o(cid:374)ve(cid:374)tio(cid:374)all(cid:455) (cid:272)autious(cid:859) a(cid:374)d (cid:858)(cid:272)o(cid:374)s(cid:272)ie(cid:374)tiousl(cid:455) resisti(cid:374)g(cid:859) (cid:373)ea(cid:374)i(cid:374)g that (cid:373)ore people are (cid:271)e(cid:272)o(cid:373)i(cid:374)g less (cid:272)areless a(cid:271)out their vehi(cid:272)le(cid:859)s safet(cid:455). Note that safety/ anti-theft technology in vehicles is more common now than in used to be. Looking at victim behavior and offender behavior together is the best way to assign responsibility because it takes both into consideration. Theoretically, this does not help make any predictions or help us understand behavior. This idea still, however, fails to consider the larger social structure/ context. Considering social structures/ context will help make predictions and explain why. The vi(cid:272)ti(cid:373)(cid:859)s (cid:271)ehavior is not a deter(cid:373)i(cid:374)i(cid:374)g fa(cid:272)tor (their (cid:271)ehavior is (cid:374)ot the o(cid:374)l(cid:455) thing that decides their victimization). Their behavior can be a contributing factor, but it is not the only thing that determines whether or not victimization occurs. Note that theories are not designed to explain every situation.
