Introduction to criminology and victimology

Victimization

Victimology

Comparative Study of Victimology and Victimization in their contribution to the study of Criminology

When the situation and experience of victims are known, several facts are unearthed about the study of criminology. As criminology is related to a particular act of human behaviour which is forbidden in society, it also discovers the reasons for such behaviour and suggests remedies to reduce the crime (Hopkins, 2016). Criminal policy and criminology are mutual support and interdependent to each other and victimisation help in the study of criminality in total.

Victimology will provide the details of situation and experience of victims and those details will be helpful in finding the reason of occurrence of such crime (Siegel, 2016). Many rape cases have revealed that crime took place due to abnormal behaviour of victim or appearance which instigates the rapist to commit the crime. Victimology can discover and add many new facets to the study of criminology (Myrstol & Chermak, 2008).

Criminology theory based on victims of crime

2. Theory based on Psychological cause,

3. Theory based on Sociological cause,

Explanation of Theory based on Sociological cause

• Sub-cultural Explanations

• Multiple Factor Approach

Structural Explanations

Subcultural explanations

Multiple factor approach

Contribution of these theories to the field of criminology and an understanding of deviance

The sociological approach towards criminology was the most impactful approach during the twentieth century. As the study of systems social behaviour and structures, sociology itself revolves around the behaviour of the human being and causes about a particular behaviour (Sampson & Laub, 2016). As per the comments of WEISBURD, the sociological theory of crime uses an objective approach to describe criminality (WEISBURD, 2015). They stressed upon various factors which are very much common in many criminals. Most of the criminologists prefer this sociological theory of crime. They feature criminality into the social conditions of the criminal (Siegel, 2016). Social interactions are major cause factor for the occurrence of crime. The three heads described under sociological theories of victims of crime such as multiple factor approach, sub-cultural explanations, and structural explanations. These three theories were explained in the paper previously (Walklate, 2015).

Structural explanation under sociology theory explains that structural defects existing in the society lead to criminality (KOEHLER, 2015). When the structural defects or breakdown of the usual social conditions occurs, it increases basic inequalities in the social structure. All people leaving in the society has aspirations to be wealthy, educated, and successful and wishes to acquire material objects such as good clothes, cars, bungalows and all luxuries of life (Hechter & Kanazawa, 1997). As the opportunities are not available at equal level and some people have best opportunities while even some people do not have bare necessities. These inequalities give rise to a feeling of frustration and result in crime (Hopkins, 2016).

Conclusion

The above paper focuses on the study of three terms victimisation, victimology and criminology. Three terms are described in detail in the paper and how three factors are interrelated are described. The study of criminology can be done better through victimisation and victimology.

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References and Books for help with Criminology

KOEHLER, J., 2015. DEVELOPMENT AND FRACTURE OF A DISCIPLINE: LEGACIES OF THE SCHOOL OF CRIMINOLOGY AT BERKELEY. Criminology, 53(4), pp. 513-544.

Myrstol, B. A. & Chermak, S. M., 2008. Victimology. In: The study of victims and patterns of victimization. London: Oxford University Press, pp. 452-495.