Theories of victimology
Various theories of victimology exist, each with the aim of explaining why certain people become victims of crimes, and why others do not. Some people view some theories in a negative light, believing that to conjecture as to the causes of victimisation is tantamount to blaming the victim for crime, at least partly.[1]
Abuse in general
The lifestyle/exposure theory is a model of victimology that posits that the likelihood an individual will suffer a personal victimization depends heavily upon the concept of life style. The lifestyle theory is constructed upon several premises. The most important of the premises are:
- The uneven distribution of criminal victimization across space and time. This translates to the occurrence of high-risk places and high-risk times.
- Offenders do not constitute a representative sample of the general population. This translates to the occurrence of high-risk persons.
- Lifestyle determines the likelihood of personal victimization through the intervening variables of exposure and association.
- People are not equally exposed to high-risk places and times, and they vary in the degree to which they associate with high-risk persons. This translates to a persons lifestyle influencing the exposure and association with high-risk persons. [1]
Abuse towards women
The interpersonal model describes violence against women as a consequence of individual psychology and abnormal interpersonal relations.[2]
The family violence model explains the phenomenon more in terms of socioeconomic and educational factors.[2]
Finally, the gender-politics model is an attempt to schematise abuse of women as attempts by males in general to maintain their position of power over females.[2]
See also
References
Bibliography
- Rosenberg, Mark L.; Mary Ann Fenley (1991). Violence in America: a public health approach. Oxford University Press US. ISBN 978-0-19-506437-7.
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