Criminology Essay: Examining Victim Precipitation Theory

This essay provides an overview of the victim precipitation theory within the field of criminology. It begins by introducing the theory, which posits that a victim's actions or behavior can contribute to the occurrence of a crime, particularly in cases of robbery, rape, and assault. The essay then delves into the arguments supporting the theory, highlighting instances where victim behavior plays a significant role in criminal events. Conversely, it presents criticisms of the theory, emphasizing the importance of self-control and the limitations of blaming victims for crimes. The discussion extends to the implications of the theory for crime control policies, cautioning against its potential misuse and emphasizing the need to avoid blaming victims. The essay concludes by reiterating the significance of the theory while acknowledging its limitations and advocating for a balanced approach to understanding criminal behavior.

Running Head: Criminology 0
Criminology
Victim Precipitation
Student’s Name
10/23/2018

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Contents
Background /Introduction................................................................................................................2
Support of Theory............................................................................................................................2
Criticism of Theory..........................................................................................................................3
Crime Control..................................................................................................................................4
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................4
References........................................................................................................................................5

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Background /Introduction
Behind every crime, some factors are there that force a person to commit that crime.
These forcing factors are generally known as criminology theories (Tania, 2014). Victim
precipitation theory is one of them, which says that a victim’s interaction with the offender, leads
a crime. It means, the theory states that many of the time victim’s behavior becomes the lead
cause of a crime. The theory mainly applies to cases of robbery, rape, and assault.
Many of the times, a victim do some act that provokes a person to commit a crime. This
theory can be understood by an example. For instance, according to this theory, the short dress of
a girl is treated as a cause of rape. This theory is one of the leads and significant theories in the
field of criminology. In the following research, the discussion will be made on support and
against this theory.
Support of Theory
Petherick, W. (2017). Victim Precipitation: Why we need to Expand Upon the Theory. Forensic
Research & Criminology International Journal, (5) 2.
Many of the cases are there when a crime was expected to happen regardless the actions
of the victim, however, this cannot be ignored that many times, victim’s action plays an
important role in the happening of a crime. Every time, a person who commits a crime cannot be
held liable for the same but many of the times victims is also responsible for an act of a criminal.
In support of this theory, this is to state that the behavior of a victim is a significant term to study

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in any criminal case. Everyone knows that a person committed a crime but what was the reason
behind such crime is also necessary to know.
Firstly, this is to believe that victim precipitation happens and rest the degree of the same
can differ from case to case (Petherick, 2017). The theory grants a lesson that sometimes a victim
can be an offender and an offender can be a victim.
The theory allows understanding that in many of the cases victims and offenders are
connected with each other and also allows to understand the emotional aspects and value of each
party. Victims are not always good and offenders are not always bad. A victim forces an offender
and such force can be intentional or innocence.
Criticism of Theory
Henle, C. A., & Gross, M. A. (2014). What have I done to deserve this? Effects of employee
personality and emotion on abusive supervision. Journal of Business Ethics, 122(3), 461-
474.
A criminal can be motivated to commit a crime by the actions of a victim but there is a
concept of self-control. The behavior of a victim cannot be treated as a cause of crime always
and should not be even in some of the cases. A person commits a crime when he/she intended to
do so. However, there are some factors behind the action of a criminal always i.e. criminology
theory, but the behavior of a victim cannot be a part of the same. The theory has a very limited
scope and the principles of the same are very hard to prove. The theory does not consider the
personal characteristics of a criminal and focus on the only the behavior of a victim. The theory
says that in cases of certain employees there are high chances that they will become a victim of a

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crime because of their abusive superannuation, physical aggression and other factors but at last,
it was a criminal person, not a victim that commits the crime (Henle & Gross, 2013). In order to
develop a critical analysis of this theory, this can be mention that the theory cannot apply in
every case and in those cases where the victim was not recognized before happening of a crime.
Crime Control
Victim Precipitation theory is one of the important criminology theories. It includes the
behavior and acts of a victim of a case. Crime control policy is a document that provides the way
in which a crime can be control in a particular area (Hall, 2018). The lead motive behind the
development of this theory is to reduce crime. Introduction of the subjective theory i.e. Victim
Precipitation theory in the development of crime control policy, some adverse results may come
out. When people will be aware of the fact that while considering any criminal case, the victim
will be held equally liable and behavior of the same will be reviewed, they will be motivated to
commit more crimes. Such a theory should not get any recognition as the same can attract more
crimes in society. Blaming a victim for a crime is not at all correct whether legally or ethically
and hence, the government should not consider the same while preparing and applying crime
control policies in the state or nation.
Conclusion
To conclude the research on Victim Precipitation theory, this is to state that although this
is a very significant theory in the subject of criminology, however the same is not applicable to
all criminal cases. A victim is a person who already remains in a situation of loss and should not

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be held further liable for anything and hence the government should not include this theory in
crime control policy.

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References
Hall, S. (2018). What Are Crime Control Policies? Retrieved From:
https://legalbeagle.com/5824748-crime-control-policies.html
Henle, C. A., & Gross, M. A. (2014). What have I done to deserve this? Effects of employee
personality and emotion on abusive supervision. Journal of Business Ethics, 122(3), 461-
474.
Petherick, W. (2017). Victim Precipitation: Why we need to Expand Upon the Theory. Forensic
Research & Criminology International Journal, (5) 2.
Tania. (2014). Criminology Theories: The Varied Reasons Why People Commit Crimes.
Retrieved From: https://blog.udemy.com/criminology-theories/