Positivist Victimology

Question 1

What does positivist victimology claim about victims?

Answer 1

Claims that victims are responsible for the crimes committed against them

Some groups are more likely to be victims because of who they are or how they behave

Question 2

What is victim proneness?

Answer 2

The social characteristics of some groups that make them more likely to be victims of crime

e.g. some groups ‘invite’ victimisation because of how they look

Question 3

How can victim proneness be criticised?

Answer 3

Victim blaming - its not the victims fault its the criminals and they should be punished accordingly

Feminists very critical of victim proneness as it suggests that women are responsible for being raped or sexually assaulted which reinforced patriarchy

Question 4

What is victim precipitation?

Answer 4

Where the victims actions trigger their victimisation

Question 5

How can victim precipitation be criticised?

Answer 5

Doesn’t explain crimes that are unprovoked e.g. robbery

Doesn’t explain victimless crimes e.g. using illegal drugs