Victimology and Canadian Surveys

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Questions and Answers

What does Routine Activity Theory suggest is necessary for a motivated offender to commit a crime?

Victims who are unaware of the crime

A suitable target and a lack of capable guardians (correct)

Motivation and excessive guardianship

Opportunity and random chance

Which group is identified as primarily responsible for intervening in bullying situations?

Law enforcement agencies

Bystanders only

Only school officials

Community and family (correct)

What is a significant impact of victimization mentioned in the content?

Emotional distress for the victims and their families (correct)

Boosts victim's social status

No repercussions for the perpetrator

Increased community solidarity

Which of the following is considered a prevention strategy against cyberbullying as proposed by the RCMP?

Education on the harms of cyberbullying Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes cyberbullying from physical bullying according to the provided content?

Cyberbullying can be anonymous and pervasive Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of victimology within criminology?

The relationship between victims and perpetrators Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of women reported experiencing at least one incident of violence since the age of 16, according to the VAWS?

50% Signup and view all the answers

Which demographic is noted for experiencing disproportionately higher victimization within families?

Indigenous Peoples Signup and view all the answers

Which age group has the highest rates of victimization across various categories such as sexual assault and robbery?

15-24 Signup and view all the answers

How does the violence reported by Indigenous women compare to that reported by non-Indigenous women?

It is more violent Signup and view all the answers

What type of survey is the VAWS?

Survey for Canadian women on violence against women Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following options highlights a specific crime that Indigenous women are reported to be victimized by at higher rates?

Assault with a weapon Signup and view all the answers

What are the main forms of violence captured by the VAWS?

Sexual and physical violence Signup and view all the answers

What does the Equivalent Group Hypothesis suggest in terms of victimization?

Victims and offenders share similar traits, increasing victim risk. Signup and view all the answers

Which hypothesis explains why individuals in high-risk lifestyles may face increased victimization?

Lifestyle Theory Signup and view all the answers

What are the components required for heightened victimization according to Routine Activity Theory?

Motivated Offender and Absence of Capable Guardian Signup and view all the answers

Which age group has the lowest victimization rates across major crime categories?

65 and over Signup and view all the answers

What is one characteristic of bullying as defined in the content?

It is a form of aggression aimed at acquiring power. Signup and view all the answers

Which crimes are women in Canada more likely to be victims of?

Sexual assault and theft Signup and view all the answers

According to the information, what is indicated about the prevalence of bullying with age?

Bullying increases with age for both boys and girls. Signup and view all the answers

Men are more likely to be victims of which types of crimes?

Robbery and assault Signup and view all the answers

What does the Deviant Place Hypothesis suggest about certain areas?

They are more conducive to crime. Signup and view all the answers

What is a likely reason households with income over $100,000 experience higher vandalism and break-ins?

Presence of valuable possessions Signup and view all the answers

How might the Deviant Place Hypothesis relate to the homeless population?

They are often targeted due to their living conditions. Signup and view all the answers

In cases of intimate partner violence, who is more often the perpetrator?

Men against women Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true regarding the factors leading to victimization?

The absence of a capable guardian increases risk. Signup and view all the answers

When women commit intimate partner violence, what is a common factor influencing the use of a weapon?

Power difference between sizes Signup and view all the answers

How much more likely are LGBTQ+ individuals to experience victimization compared to heterosexual individuals?

2.5 times higher Signup and view all the answers

Which groups are disproportionately affected by street checks according to media investigations?

Indigenous women and Black people Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Housekeeping Items

Assignment Tutorial with Sam: November 7
Trigger Warning: material contains images that may be upsetting or triggering.

Introduction

Victimology is a sub-field of criminology.
It focuses on the relationship between victims and perpetrators of crimes within the context of social institutions, such as the criminal justice system.
Victimization Surveys are also part of the introduction.

Canadian Victimization Surveys

VAWS (Violence Against Women Survey) surveys Canadian women about violence inside and outside the home, sexual violence, physical violence, and perceptions of fear.
50% of women reported experiencing at least one incident of violence since the age of 16, according to the VAWS.
Victimization among Indigenous Peoples within families is disproportionately higher than in the general population.

Canadian Victimization Surveys (Indigenous Women)

Indigenous women are more likely to experience both physical and sexual abuse by a partner than non-Indigenous women.
Abuse reported by Indigenous women is more violent than abuse reported by non-Indigenous women.
Indigenous women are twice as likely to be victimized by assault with a weapon, beating or strangulation, threats involving a firearm or knife, or by being forced into committing sexual acts.

Victim Characteristics: Age

The 15-24 age group has the highest rates of victimization across all major categories (sexual assault, robbery, physical assault, and theft of personal property).
Lifestyle choices, such as staying out later and going out more often, may contribute to a higher risk of victimization in this age group.
The 65 and over age group has the lowest rates of victimization across all major categories.

Victim Characteristics: Gender

Women in Canada are more likely to be victims of sexual assault and theft.
Men in Canada are more likely to be victims of robbery and assault.

Victim Characteristics: Household Income

Households with income over $100,000 are more likely to have their homes vandalized or broken into.
This is likely due to the higher value of possessions in these households.

Victim Characteristics: Marital Status

Intimate Partner Violence is more likely to be committed by men against women.
When women commit intimate partner violence, they are more likely to use a weapon. This is likely due to the power difference between individuals.

Victim Characteristics: Sexual Orientation

LGBTQ+ individuals experience victimization at a rate 2.5 times higher than heterosexual individuals.

Victim Characteristics: Race and Ethnicity

Racial discrimination is overrepresented in the Canadian justice system (CJS).
Black people are 5% of those who are subject to street checks in Vancouver, but only represent 1% of the population.
Indigenous women are also disproportionately likely to be the target of street checks.

Intimate Partner Violence: Discussion

Studies have revealed that spousal violence is dramatically underreported to the police.
Possible explanations for this underreporting include fear of retaliation, distrust of the police, and shame.
Watching the videos examining intimate partner violence raises questions about the existence of double standards and the need for greater intervention from all sources.

Victimology Theories

Victimology theories emerged in the late 1970s.
These theories shifted the focus away from victim characteristics and toward the choices made by victims.
Key theories include Lifestyle Theory and Routine Activities Theory.

Lifestyle Theory

This theory suggests that some people experience a greater risk of victimization due to their lifestyle habits and behavior patterns.
Related Hypotheses include those based on:
Equivalent Group Hypothesis: Victims and perpetrators share similar characteristics, increasing risks.
Proximity Hypothesis: Living risky lifestyles increases the risk of victimization
Deviant Place Hypothesis: Certain areas have higher rates of criminal activity.

Discussion (Homelessness)

The Deviant Place Hypothesis could be used to explain the higher rates of victimization among homeless individuals, since homeless individuals are often located in areas where crime is more likely.

Theoretical Models and Victim Typologies

Routine Activities Theory suggests that easy victimization opportunities are created by routine activities making individuals more likely to be targeted.
This theory focuses on three key elements:
Motivated offender(s)
Suitable target(s)
Absence of capable guardian(s)

Bullying

Bullying involves asserting power through aggression, aiming to control victims physically, emotionally, and socially.
Data reveals a pattern of increased bullying with age; younger individuals are more likely to be targeted by older peers.

Bullying: Discussion

Application of Routine Activities Theory to bullying videos can help to understand the conditions that make individuals more vulnerable to bullying.
Strategies for combating bullying, including the role of schools, family, and communities in intervening, are crucial.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying methods in videos are presented.
Consideration is given to the question of whether online bullying is worse than physical bullying.
Education on the potential negative impacts of cyberbullying for children is recommended via various channels (school, family, community).
Applying Routine Activities Theory to cyberbullying is discussed and examined.

Online Bullying/Cyberbullying

Discusses prevention strategies proposed by the RCMP regarding online and cyberbullying.

Victimology

Victimology theories aid in understanding and minimizing victimization.
It's crucial to avoid blaming victims.
Every crime has consequences, including material/personal loss, physical suffering, and emotional distress.

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Description

This quiz explores the field of victimology, focusing on its relationship with criminology and the various Canadian victimization surveys. It highlights key findings from the Violence Against Women Survey and emphasizes the specific challenges faced by Indigenous women regarding victimization. Test your knowledge on these crucial social issues.