VICTIMOLOGY REVISITED - A CRITIQUE AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE DIRECTION

• NCJ Number: 34763
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Dated: (MAY 1976) Pages: 125-136
• Author(s): C W 2 FRANKLIN; A P FRANKLIN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE AUTHORS IDENTIFY AND EVALUATE SOME OF THE UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS OF VICTIM PRECIPITATION EXPLANATORY FRAMEWORKS.

Abstract

THESE ASSUMPTIONS INCLUDE THOSE THAT CRIMINAL DEEDS CAN BE EXPLAINED BY THE PRECIPITATIVE BEHAVIOR OF THE VICTIM; THAT THE CRIMINAL IS IN A PASSIVE STATE AND SET INTO ACTION BY THE VICTIM'S BEHAVIOR; THAT BEHAVIORS DISPLAYED BY A VICTIM ARE NECESSARY AND SUFFICIENT FOR CRIMINAL ACTS; AND THAT THE INTENT OF THE VICTIM CAN BE ASSUMED FROM HIS OR HER RESULTANT VICTIMIZATION. IT IS ASSERTED THAT SEVERAL FALLACIES APPEAR TO PLAGUE THE UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS OF VICTIM-PRECIPITATION EXPLANATIONS, INCLUDING CIRCULAR REASONING, STIMULUSRESPONSE INTERPRETATIONS OF HUMAN INTERACTION, INCONGRUENCE BETWEEN THEORETICAL EXPLANATIONS OF VICTIM BEHAVIORS AND THE EMPIRICAL REALITY OF THESE BEHAVIORS, AND INADEQUATE ASSESSMENT OF VICTIM-PRECIPITATIVE BEHAVIORS. THEORY REVISION AND RECONCEPTUALIZATION OF VICTIM PRECIPITATION EXPLANATORY FORMULATIONS IS URGED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)