CHAPTER 1: OVERVIEW AND CONCEPTS IN VICTIMOLOGY:
3 VICTIMOLOGY PARADIGMS FOCUSING ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE VICTIM AND THE OFFENDER:
Conservative law-and-order paradigm:
o Offender is blamed for transgression, victim is blameless
Radical Victimology paradigm:
o Diffusion of roles between the victim and the offender
o Offender abuses his power, but victim not viewed as entirely blameless –
dynamics between offender and victim
Critical victimology paradigm:
o Offender and victim are innocent
o Offenders are viewed as victims of the system and the community is held
accountable for individuals who commit crimes
VIANO’S PROCESS APPROACH:
Incorporates the dynamics within which the victimization takes place:
o A person is injured or suffers at the hand of another person or institution
o The injured person perceives the suffering as unjust
o The person looks for recognition that he/she has been a victim
o When other people recognize and acknowledge that the person has been
victimized, the person can be regarded as a victim
According to Viano:
o It is only when a person has proceeded through all four stages that he/she
can be regarded as a victim
VICTIMIZATION:
Secondary victimization:
o Despite the fact that the individuals experienced victimization at the hands
of the offender they are often victimized again
Either by the police, family members, doctors, nurses or other people
that come into contact with after the incident
Repeat victimization:
o When the same person is a victim in more than one criminal incident
Characteristics of potential repeat victimization- Finkelhor and Asigian:
o Target vulnerability:
Physical weakness – e.g. biological, social
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3 VICTIMOLOGY PARADIGMS FOCUSING ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE VICTIM AND THE OFFENDER:
Conservative law-and-order paradigm:
o Offender is blamed for transgression, victim is blameless
Radical Victimology paradigm:
o Diffusion of roles between the victim and the offender
o Offender abuses his power, but victim not viewed as entirely blameless –
dynamics between offender and victim
Critical victimology paradigm:
o Offender and victim are innocent
o Offenders are viewed as victims of the system and the community is held
accountable for individuals who commit crimes
VIANO’S PROCESS APPROACH:
Incorporates the dynamics within which the victimization takes place:
o A person is injured or suffers at the hand of another person or institution
o The injured person perceives the suffering as unjust
o The person looks for recognition that he/she has been a victim
o When other people recognize and acknowledge that the person has been
victimized, the person can be regarded as a victim
According to Viano:
o It is only when a person has proceeded through all four stages that he/she
can be regarded as a victim
VICTIMIZATION:
Secondary victimization:
o Despite the fact that the individuals experienced victimization at the hands
of the offender they are often victimized again
Either by the police, family members, doctors, nurses or other people
that come into contact with after the incident
Repeat victimization:
o When the same person is a victim in more than one criminal incident
Characteristics of potential repeat victimization- Finkelhor and Asigian:
o Target vulnerability:
Physical weakness – e.g. biological, social
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