Investigation of human behavior during the commission of crimes always was of great interest for criminologist, but nowadays, the significance of victims as participants of crimes is commonly recognized as well. Victimology is the science aimed exactly at the analysis of the phenomenon of victimization and characteristics of victim’s behavior. Victimology is a relatively modern science, yet its theoretical multidimensionality and practical utility may help victimologists to make their own contribution to the development of the science and social welfare.
While criminology is concerned with crime in a broad sense of the term, including the regularities associated with the particular crimes, and implications of individual or mass criminal behavior, victimology focuses on the investigation of multiple aspects of victim’s behavior (Karmen, 2013). Initially, victimology occurred within the boundaries of criminology as a result of studying the interrelations between offenders and their victims. However, this science has gradually evolved. Nowadays, its object of study includes the common definition of victim regardless of the nature of a caused harm, i.e. accidents, natural disasters, etc. But criminal victimologists continue to investigate the problems of victim-offender interactions, individual characteristics of victims within and outside of the context of a committed crime, relation of victims to latent criminality, etc. (Karmen, 2013).
Crime is a social phenomenon, and it is deeply interrelated with social and cultural backgrounds of criminals and victims (Karmen, 2013). Through the investigation of distinct interrelations between the social factors of crime, victims’ behavior and offender’s motives, victimologist attempts to comprehend social and individual aspects of victimization and impacts of victims’ behavior on development and outcome of crime attempts. Comprehension of these aspects may help to design the practices for a victimological prevention of crimes which may be considered the major purpose of victimology.
The job of victimologist is associated with a wide range of activities from research and cooperation with law enforcement detectives to victim counseling and support (Fisher & Jerin, 2014). However, despite the selected direction of career growth, victimologist should demonstrate profound knowledge in law, criminal justice, sociology, and psychology. Experts in victimology should exploit their skills for the prediction of criminals’ behavior and management of complex situations while dealing with victims from different social backgrounds.
Since the practice of victimology is related to cooperation with people – victims and their families – during vulnerable and even tragic periods of their lives, it has many ethical implications. Victimologists should demonstrate psychological and cultural sensitivity to avoid misunderstanding during conversations with victims and misinterpretation of data collected through interviews. Consideration of multiple ethical principles, such as confidentiality, informed consent for counseling and assessment, etc., help to increase the overall efficiency of work (Pros and cons of a career as a victim advocate, n.d.).
Crime is an individual psychopathologic phenomenon, and victim is an active participator of a criminal offense (Karmen, 2013). The dynamics of offender-victim interaction may significantly influence the course of a crime. Based on this, through the investigation of victim-criminal relations, victimologists contribute to understanding the factors affecting crimes and help to develop methods for the prevention of criminal activity through the intervention of victim behavior. Moreover, counseling victimologists assist people exposed to crimes in overcoming distress and facilitation of social adjustment. In this way, by performing a psychological aspect of professional practice, specialists help victims to improve the quality of their lives.
However, a career in victimology may have some disadvantages. For example, work with cases of violence and victimization is associated with high level of stress that may cause victimologist’s burnout and result in psychological and physical health problems which, in their turn, may interfere with professional efficacy and personal well-being (Basbeth & Sachrowardi, 2015).
Victimology helps to evaluate each crime objectively considering multiple aspects of personality, and the findings of victimology are frequently used to support decision making in multiple domains of criminal justice. In their daily professional activity, victimologists attempt to resolve the most topical theoretical and practical issues of fighting crime. In this way, victimologists fulfill the major purpose of their science – development of practices for the prevention of victimization.
References
Basbeth, F., & Sachrowardi, Q. (2015). Ethical challenges of expert witness on sexual violence in Islamic perspective. International Journal of Ethics, Trauma & Victimology IJETV, 1(2). Web.
Fisher, B. S., & Jerin, R. A. (2014). The evolution of victimology: Pedagogy, research, services, and advocacy. Journal Of Criminal Justice Education, 25(4), 403-404. Web.
Karmen, A. (2013). Crime victims: An introduction to victimology. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.Pros and cons of a career as a victim advocate.(n.d.). Web.