Sociology 2266A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Victimology, Bad Hindelang, Binge Drinking
Document Summary
Victimology the scientific study of crime victims and the victimization process. Victimologist studies victims and the process of criminal victimization. Particularly vulnerable groups of people in an attempt to understand victimization process. Victimogenesis the contribution to victimization made by the background of a victim. Active contribution: defenseless (old, drunk, physical disability), appropriate measures (locking doors), displaying wealth, unwise choices. Victim precipitation any contribution made by the victim to the criminal event, especially one that led to its initiation. Characteristics of victims, nature of their surrounding, quality of their relationships. 6 types of victims; ranging from completely innocent to imaginary victim (someone with a psychological disorder would experience this) Victims w minor guilt, victims as guilty as offender, victims w more guilt than offender. Lifestyle exposure theory (hindelang, gottfredson, garofalo) perspective that holds that an individual"s lifestyle contributes significantly to the likelihood of his or her criminal victimization.