IRM 1-1
Chapter 1: What Is Victimology?
from Crime Victims: An Introduction to Victimology, 10e by Andrew Karmen
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completing this chapter, the student should be able to:
L01. Define victim.
L02. Define victimization.
L03. Define victimology.
L04. Describe the subjective approach to the plight of victims.
L05. Define scientific objectivity.
L06. Discuss why objectivity is critical when examining the plight of crime victims.
L07. Differentiate victimology from victimization.
L08. Compare and contrast victimology and criminology.
L09. List intellectual and practical reasons for studying victimization.
L010. Identify different types of research about victims.
L011. Identify different disciplinary contributions to the study of victims.
L012. List the steps for conducting a victim-centered analysis.
LESSON PLAN
Correlated to PowerPoints
I. An Introduction to Victimology
A. History and Definitions [Learning Objectives 1 and 2]
5 1. In ancient societies, a victim was one sacrificed to a supernatural power.
4 2. People are victims of accidents, natural disasters, diseases, or social problems.
3. Not all types of victimization are outlawed (e.g., overcharging a customer).
See Assignment 1
B. Studying Victimization Scientifically [Learning Objective 3]
1. Victimologists study
a. Impact and injuries inflicted by offenders
b. Overtures and responses of the people in conflict
c. Public’s reaction to the victims’ suffering
2. Victimology must be based on evidence.
© 2020 Cengage. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, IRM 1-2
3. Victimology studies real people, not vague entities like “taxpayers.”
C. Focusing on the Plight of Crime Victims [Learning Objectives 4 and 5]
6 1. A victim’s plight is viewed one of two ways:
4 a. A subjective approach centers on morality, ethics, philosophy, and
emotions.
i. Used when offenders show callous disregard for human life
ii. Centers around fear, despair, and concerns for public safety
b. An objective approach draws conclusions only from evidence and facts.
i. Does not preclude compassion
ii. Analyzes problems, gathers information, and evaluates remedies
2. Victimologists want to understand the following:
a. The degree of physical, emotional, and/or financial harm
b. The extent to which victims are being assisted or neglected
c. How victims ultimately respond to their experiences
3. Victims are classified as direct or primary victims and indirect or secondary
victims (e.g., loved ones of direct victims, first responders, rescue workers).
What If Scenario
Choose one of the italicized real-world cases on pages 3–5 in the text. Assume that you have been assigned to research the
victim(s) involved. How would you begin? Develop five questions you would ask to gain information about the indirect or
secondary victim(s) involved.
D. What Kinds of Studies Do Victimologists Carry Out? [Learning Objective 6]
7-8 1. Victimologists want to explain and predict why certain people are targeted for
4 crime more than others.
2. Investigating the interactions between victims and their offenders
a. Early researchers looked for prior relationships or if the victim instigated
criminal interest.
3. Why Objectivity is desirable
a. Victimologists cannot always be “pro-victim” as victims may be
lawbreakers themselves or share responsibility for the crime.
b. “Legitimate victim” status is socially constructed.
c. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish victims from villains as many do
not meet ideal-type conditions.
d. Victims can be victimizers and victimizers can be victims.
i. Predators often prey upon each other resulting in victim–
offender overlap.
ii. Victimologists question whether society believes these victims
merely “reap what they sow?”
e. Victims can find themselves at odds with the “good guys” (e.g., media).
10-11 i. Impartiality helps one understand why friction develops and how
4 to find solutions, if needed.
4. Three sources of bias that thwart objectivity
a. Personal experiences (individual preferences and prejudices)
b. Legacy of the discipline (collective preferences of its founders)
c. Social environment
© 2020 Cengage. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, IRM 1-3
See Assignment 2
Media Tool
“Andrea Yates ‘Grieves for Her Children’ 15 Years after Shocking Crime” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=id8LTjE1wNc)
-A short video about a mentally ill woman who drowns her five children in a bathtub
-Discussion: Is it clear who the victims are in this case? Is the victimizer clearly determinable? How does this video
affect your views regarding the need for research objectivity?
What If Scenario
Assume that you are a recent victim of a street crime. How might your victimization impact your victimology research? What
steps might you take to ensure objectivity in your work?
Class Discussion/Activity
How do you explain the connection between victimization and subsequent offending behavior? How might our understanding
of this connection impact victim policy?
II. What Victimology Isn’t
13-15 A. Victimology versus Detective Work
4 1. For police officers, “victimology” refers to background investigations that
reconstruct events to solve crimes.
B. Victimology versus Victim Services
1. Victimologists do not provide one-on-one victim assistance.
2. Victimologists study entire victim populations.
C. Victimology versus Victimism: A Political Point of View [Learning Objective 7]
1. The term victimology has negative connotations in mainstream culture.
2. “Ology” means the scientific study of.
3. Victimism is the outlook of people who share a sense of victimhood.
See Assignment 3
What If Scenario
Choose one of the statements in Box 1.4. Assume that you have been asked to respond to that specific victimology “basher”
and his or her particular audience. What would you say? Why do you think people frequently confuse victimology with
victimism?
III. Comparing Victimology to Criminology [Leaning Objective 8]
A. Hierarchy
18-19 1. Victimology is an area of specialization within criminology.
4 2. Historically, much of criminology can be considered offenderology.
Victimology brings balance to the discipline.
B. The Many Parallels between Criminology and Victimology
1. Both disciplines study individuals’ backgrounds and societal situations looking
for causal relationships.
2. Both emphasize the proper gathering and interpretation of data.
© 2020 Cengage. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, IRM 1-4
3. Both study how the criminal justice system actually works.
4. Both assess the needs of offenders and the effectiveness of recovery programs.
5. Both estimate the costs of crime.
Class Discussion/Activity
Interview a police officer, prosecutor, defense attorney, someone who has been a victim of a crime, and someone who has
been convicted of a crime. Ask each party to describe victimization. Explain the similarities and differences in responses.
Reflect upon why you think these similarities and differences exist across the individuals you interviewed.
C. Some Differences and Issues about Boundaries
20 1. Criminology is several hundred years old. Victimology emerged in the second
4 half of the twentieth century.
2. Criminologist have agreed to limit their studies to illegal activities, which
excludes forms of social deviance that do not violate criminal laws (e.g., some
forms of bullying). Some victimologists want to study more than criminal
victimization.
Class Discussion/Activity
If the study of criminology has been around for hundreds of years, why do you think victimology emerged only recently?
Why do victimologists disagree about study boundaries? What are the pros and cons of maintaining focus on criminal
victimization? Of expanding that focus?
D. Differing Approaches within the Discipline
21-23 1. The conservatives approach
4 a. Focuses on street crimes
b. Holds victims and offenders accountable for their actions
c. Embraces the crime control model of criminal justice
2. The liberal approach
a. Includes street crimes and criminal harm inflicted by corporate
executives and officials
b. Endorses societal intervention to ensure fair treatment
c. Embraces restorative justice
3. The radical left/critical/conflict approach
a. Includes street crimes, criminal activities of officials, and other harms
(e.g., polluters, predatory lenders, fraudulent advertisers)
b. Views victims as individuals or entire groups
c. Considers the legal system partly at fault
Media Tool
“Three Ideological Tendencies Related to Victimology” (https://www.correctionsone.com/corrections-1/articles/51175187-3-
ideological-tendencies-related-to-victimology/)
-An article from Community Corrections Insights about the conservative, liberal, and radical ideologies
-Discussion: What do you believe to be the merits and drawbacks with each type of ideology? Do you think Mr.
Hegger’s career in law enforcement affected his opinions? Explain your reasoning.
Class Discussion/Activity
© 2020 Cengage. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Chapter 1: What Is Victimology?
from Crime Victims: An Introduction to Victimology, 10e by Andrew Karmen
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completing this chapter, the student should be able to:
L01. Define victim.
L02. Define victimization.
L03. Define victimology.
L04. Describe the subjective approach to the plight of victims.
L05. Define scientific objectivity.
L06. Discuss why objectivity is critical when examining the plight of crime victims.
L07. Differentiate victimology from victimization.
L08. Compare and contrast victimology and criminology.
L09. List intellectual and practical reasons for studying victimization.
L010. Identify different types of research about victims.
L011. Identify different disciplinary contributions to the study of victims.
L012. List the steps for conducting a victim-centered analysis.
LESSON PLAN
Correlated to PowerPoints
I. An Introduction to Victimology
A. History and Definitions [Learning Objectives 1 and 2]
5 1. In ancient societies, a victim was one sacrificed to a supernatural power.
4 2. People are victims of accidents, natural disasters, diseases, or social problems.
3. Not all types of victimization are outlawed (e.g., overcharging a customer).
See Assignment 1
B. Studying Victimization Scientifically [Learning Objective 3]
1. Victimologists study
a. Impact and injuries inflicted by offenders
b. Overtures and responses of the people in conflict
c. Public’s reaction to the victims’ suffering
2. Victimology must be based on evidence.
© 2020 Cengage. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, IRM 1-2
3. Victimology studies real people, not vague entities like “taxpayers.”
C. Focusing on the Plight of Crime Victims [Learning Objectives 4 and 5]
6 1. A victim’s plight is viewed one of two ways:
4 a. A subjective approach centers on morality, ethics, philosophy, and
emotions.
i. Used when offenders show callous disregard for human life
ii. Centers around fear, despair, and concerns for public safety
b. An objective approach draws conclusions only from evidence and facts.
i. Does not preclude compassion
ii. Analyzes problems, gathers information, and evaluates remedies
2. Victimologists want to understand the following:
a. The degree of physical, emotional, and/or financial harm
b. The extent to which victims are being assisted or neglected
c. How victims ultimately respond to their experiences
3. Victims are classified as direct or primary victims and indirect or secondary
victims (e.g., loved ones of direct victims, first responders, rescue workers).
What If Scenario
Choose one of the italicized real-world cases on pages 3–5 in the text. Assume that you have been assigned to research the
victim(s) involved. How would you begin? Develop five questions you would ask to gain information about the indirect or
secondary victim(s) involved.
D. What Kinds of Studies Do Victimologists Carry Out? [Learning Objective 6]
7-8 1. Victimologists want to explain and predict why certain people are targeted for
4 crime more than others.
2. Investigating the interactions between victims and their offenders
a. Early researchers looked for prior relationships or if the victim instigated
criminal interest.
3. Why Objectivity is desirable
a. Victimologists cannot always be “pro-victim” as victims may be
lawbreakers themselves or share responsibility for the crime.
b. “Legitimate victim” status is socially constructed.
c. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish victims from villains as many do
not meet ideal-type conditions.
d. Victims can be victimizers and victimizers can be victims.
i. Predators often prey upon each other resulting in victim–
offender overlap.
ii. Victimologists question whether society believes these victims
merely “reap what they sow?”
e. Victims can find themselves at odds with the “good guys” (e.g., media).
10-11 i. Impartiality helps one understand why friction develops and how
4 to find solutions, if needed.
4. Three sources of bias that thwart objectivity
a. Personal experiences (individual preferences and prejudices)
b. Legacy of the discipline (collective preferences of its founders)
c. Social environment
© 2020 Cengage. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, IRM 1-3
See Assignment 2
Media Tool
“Andrea Yates ‘Grieves for Her Children’ 15 Years after Shocking Crime” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=id8LTjE1wNc)
-A short video about a mentally ill woman who drowns her five children in a bathtub
-Discussion: Is it clear who the victims are in this case? Is the victimizer clearly determinable? How does this video
affect your views regarding the need for research objectivity?
What If Scenario
Assume that you are a recent victim of a street crime. How might your victimization impact your victimology research? What
steps might you take to ensure objectivity in your work?
Class Discussion/Activity
How do you explain the connection between victimization and subsequent offending behavior? How might our understanding
of this connection impact victim policy?
II. What Victimology Isn’t
13-15 A. Victimology versus Detective Work
4 1. For police officers, “victimology” refers to background investigations that
reconstruct events to solve crimes.
B. Victimology versus Victim Services
1. Victimologists do not provide one-on-one victim assistance.
2. Victimologists study entire victim populations.
C. Victimology versus Victimism: A Political Point of View [Learning Objective 7]
1. The term victimology has negative connotations in mainstream culture.
2. “Ology” means the scientific study of.
3. Victimism is the outlook of people who share a sense of victimhood.
See Assignment 3
What If Scenario
Choose one of the statements in Box 1.4. Assume that you have been asked to respond to that specific victimology “basher”
and his or her particular audience. What would you say? Why do you think people frequently confuse victimology with
victimism?
III. Comparing Victimology to Criminology [Leaning Objective 8]
A. Hierarchy
18-19 1. Victimology is an area of specialization within criminology.
4 2. Historically, much of criminology can be considered offenderology.
Victimology brings balance to the discipline.
B. The Many Parallels between Criminology and Victimology
1. Both disciplines study individuals’ backgrounds and societal situations looking
for causal relationships.
2. Both emphasize the proper gathering and interpretation of data.
© 2020 Cengage. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, IRM 1-4
3. Both study how the criminal justice system actually works.
4. Both assess the needs of offenders and the effectiveness of recovery programs.
5. Both estimate the costs of crime.
Class Discussion/Activity
Interview a police officer, prosecutor, defense attorney, someone who has been a victim of a crime, and someone who has
been convicted of a crime. Ask each party to describe victimization. Explain the similarities and differences in responses.
Reflect upon why you think these similarities and differences exist across the individuals you interviewed.
C. Some Differences and Issues about Boundaries
20 1. Criminology is several hundred years old. Victimology emerged in the second
4 half of the twentieth century.
2. Criminologist have agreed to limit their studies to illegal activities, which
excludes forms of social deviance that do not violate criminal laws (e.g., some
forms of bullying). Some victimologists want to study more than criminal
victimization.
Class Discussion/Activity
If the study of criminology has been around for hundreds of years, why do you think victimology emerged only recently?
Why do victimologists disagree about study boundaries? What are the pros and cons of maintaining focus on criminal
victimization? Of expanding that focus?
D. Differing Approaches within the Discipline
21-23 1. The conservatives approach
4 a. Focuses on street crimes
b. Holds victims and offenders accountable for their actions
c. Embraces the crime control model of criminal justice
2. The liberal approach
a. Includes street crimes and criminal harm inflicted by corporate
executives and officials
b. Endorses societal intervention to ensure fair treatment
c. Embraces restorative justice
3. The radical left/critical/conflict approach
a. Includes street crimes, criminal activities of officials, and other harms
(e.g., polluters, predatory lenders, fraudulent advertisers)
b. Views victims as individuals or entire groups
c. Considers the legal system partly at fault
Media Tool
“Three Ideological Tendencies Related to Victimology” (https://www.correctionsone.com/corrections-1/articles/51175187-3-
ideological-tendencies-related-to-victimology/)
-An article from Community Corrections Insights about the conservative, liberal, and radical ideologies
-Discussion: What do you believe to be the merits and drawbacks with each type of ideology? Do you think Mr.
Hegger’s career in law enforcement affected his opinions? Explain your reasoning.
Class Discussion/Activity
© 2020 Cengage. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
