Sociology
Study Notes
Positivist Victimology
- Level:
- AS, A Level
- Board:
- AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, WJEC
Last updated 7 Aug 2018
It is argued that people contribute towards their own victimhood through certain characteristics or behaviour. Anything from walking home alone in the dark, to leaving a window open or valuables on display can be seen as contributing to one's own victimhood.
This can explain apparent patterns in victimisation. For example, young people are much more likely to be victims than middle‐ aged people and this could be because they are much more likely to get drunk, be out late, not to have burglar alarms, be less security conscious, etc. For example, the 2017 CSEW data shows that people who regularly attended nightclubs were significantly more likely to be a victim of crime than those who do not
Evaluating Positivist Victimology
Positivist victimology is sometimes accused of being, quite literally, victim blaming. In 2011, a Canadian police constable famously told a student group that "women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimised"; and there have been a number of cases where prosecutors and judges have implied that women's behaviour or dress have contributed to a sexual assault, resulting in reduced sentences. These events led to the post‐modern feminist "slut walk" protests and concerns about "rape culture".
The other side of the coin from victim blaming is the idea that theorists are taking away some of the blame from the criminal. The idea that victims attract crime through their behaviour or personality takes away agency from the criminal. Of course, people shouldn't leave their windows open, but an open window is not an invitation to enter a home and steal property. Positivist victimology appears to blame victims for putting temptation in the way of criminals.
You might also like
The Ultimate Bumper Crime & Deviance Revision Quiz!
Quizzes & Activities
Victims and Victimisation
Study Notes
Why are women so angry after the killing of Sarah Everard?
23rd March 2021
Male rape in the UK
22nd January 2020
Critical Victimology
Study Notes
Measuring Crime
Study Notes
Crime, Deviance, Social Control and Social Order
Student Videos
The Social Construction of Victimhood
Study Notes
Recommended
AQA A-Level Sociology Grade Booster 2022
Student Revision Workshops
Join our experienced presenters for a day of fast-paced revision & essential exam technique advice on the big cinema screen – supported by online help all the way though to your final exam paper.