CriminologyLesson 1 of 3 in the course Victimology

Victimology: Recognition, Psychological Effects, Environmental Risk, and Measurement

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Victimology examines victimization and the people, relationships, and institutions connected to it. This lesson introduces the field, considers how someone comes to be recognized as a victim, and explores the relationship between victims and offenders.

Victimology is the study of victimization. It examines the psychological effects of crime on victims, the relationship between victims and offenders, and victims’ interactions with the criminal justice system. That system includes police, courts, and corrections officials. Victimology also considers how victims relate to other social groups and institutions, including the media, businesses, and social movements.

All flashcards

Victimology
The study of victimization, its effects, victim-offender relationships, and victims’ interactions with institutions.
Social construction of victim status
The process by which social beliefs and power dynamics shape who is recognized as a victim.
Ideal victim
A person who fits social expectations that make full recognition as a victim more likely.
Victim impact statement
A victim’s account to the court of how a crime affected them, often presented at sentencing.
Penal couple
A concept describing the victim-offender relationship in a criminal event, criticized when it implies victim blame.

Quiz questions

  1. What does environmental theory propose about the setting of a crime?Answer: Place and context shape opportunities for victims and offenders to come together.
  2. What is the main purpose of the U.S. National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)?Answer: To estimate victimization, including crimes not reported to police.
  3. What usually happens during a victim impact panel?Answer: Victims or their supporters explain a crime’s effects to a convicted defendant.
  4. Which is a function of Canada’s Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime?Answer: Informing victims about federal rights and services and providing a complaint route.
  5. Why are comparisons between national victimization surveys difficult?Answer: Countries may use different crime definitions and survey methods.

Based on the Wikipedia article Victimology, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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