Victimization Theory

An individual’s risk of victimization can have a great deal to do with their own personal traits. These traits can include age, gender, race, social status, and relationship status (Siegel, Brown, & Hoffman, 2013, pg. 54). The chances of becoming a victim are at their highest at the age range of 18-25. This is because people in that age group tend to go out with friends, drink, and overall become a more available target, whereas younger and older people tend to stay inside more and thus are no as convenient targets. Being a certain gender doesn’t increase or lower one’s chances of becoming a victim but, rather influences which types of crime the individual will fall victim to. Males are more likely to be assaulted or robbed, while females are

The three variables are: suitable targets, lack of capable guardians, and motivated offenders (Siegel et al., 2013, pg. 61). When all three of these factors are present there is a significant increasing it the probability of a crime being committed. For example if there was no one around and an unemployed person happens upon an unlocked house, then there is the notion that they would take advantage of the situation and loot it to gain what they cannot afford or to make some money off what they find. Based on the theory, to limit the possibility of B&E’s from happening owners should make their house less of a target. This means taking precautions such as locking doors, setting up security alarms, or even getting a dog to deter potential offenders. It also helps to have people that are around to watch over the house. Having people around deters people because there is a bigger chance of getting caught. Finally, living in areas where there are less motivated offenders hanging around such as deviant teens, homeless people or addicts can limit

Every individual is unique so it would make sense that everyone has their own reason for committing crime. Therefore there cannot be one explanation for these actions, but a vast array of reasons that can be both biological and social. There are people like the Vincent Li, the guy that beheaded a man on a Greyhound bus, who are driven into crime by mental illness. Li explained that he heard voices that told him to kill the victim before the victim could kill him (Siegel et al., 2013, pg.104). This demonstrates a biological problem, where he was dealing with schizophrenia and that led to the murder. However, not everyone who is mentally ill acts out. In actuality they are more likely to harm themselves or be victimized by others than be the aggressors (Siegel et al., 2013, pg. 105). Social learning theorists believe that even though mental or physical traits might predispose a person toward violence, it is the environment around them that activates their inclinations to think and act violently (Siegel et al., 2013, pg. 106). Some people are more susceptible to participating in criminal activity due to the environment they are in or grew up in. Those that are homeless or living in poor neighborhoods might feel like they have to steal in order to survive to survive. This decision isn’t influenced by a person’s genetics or physical/ mental development, but on the circumstances