victimology

Question 1

What is positivist victimology?

Answer 1

Focuses on identifying patterns in victimisation and what makes certain individuals more likely to be victims.
🔑 Key theorist: Miers (1989)

Question 2

What are the key features of positivist victimology?

Answer 2

Identifies social/psychological factors

Focuses on interpersonal crime

Sometimes blames the victim (e.g. “precipitation” of violence)

Question 3

Example of positivist victimology?

Answer 3

A: Wolfgang (1958) – 26% of homicides in his study involved victims who had initiated the violence.

Question 4

Criticism of positivist victimology?

Answer 4

A: Ignores structural factors (e.g. poverty, patriarchy), and victim blaming is controversial.

Question 5

What is critical victimology?

Answer 5

A: Argues victimisation is linked to power structures (e.g. class, gender, state).
🔑 Key theorists: Tombs & Whyte (2007)

Question 6

What does Tombs & Whyte argue?

Answer 6

A: The state often denies or hides victimisation caused by corporate/state actions – powerful control the definition of “victim”.

Question 7

What’s the ‘ideal victim’?

Answer 7

A: A socially constructed image of a “worthy” victim (e.g. elderly woman mugged).

Question 8

What is secondary victimisation?

Answer 8

A: When victims are traumatised again by police, courts, or media after reporting crime (e.g. rape victims).

Question 9

Who is most likely to be a victim (according to CSEW)?

Answer 9

A: Young, working-class males, ethnic minorities, and those in deprived areas.