Comparing Criminal Victimization Theories: Hentig, Mendeksohn, and Schafer

CJ401 Compare and Contrast Criminal Victimization Theories While focusing on Hentig, Mendeksohn and Schafer’s theories, it is open that they have significantly influenced human understanding of criminal victimization. While analyzing the theory of victim precipitation, Hentig emphasized on how victims characteristics influence criminal behavior (00:30-01:53). His insights into the victims’ behavior highlighted that victim inadvertently provoke or even contribute to their victimization. It is a theory that acknowledges that victimization is not solely determined by the offender but rather shaped by the victim’s characteristics ranging from behavior, interactions and circumstances. Since the theory revolves around victims characteristics, blaming the victim for their own victimization becomes its main weakness. Basically, this theory ignores offender’s responsibility thus lacking empirical support to just