Victimology is comprised of many theories, which are often the basis for how professionals relate to victims. Two such theories are Mendelsohn’s victimization theory and the theory of victim blaming. These theories share similarities and differences, which can offer important insights into the effects criminal activity, can have on victims as well as the perception of victims by outsiders in society. It is important to first understand the different characteristics of Mendelsohn’s victimization theory. Mendelsohn was a lawyer, who through his work studied differences in the minds of victims. Aspects of Mendelsohn’s theory include categorizations of innocent people, victims of minor guilt, voluntary victims, imaginary guilt, and a few more. The difference between victimization and victim blaming is very similar but also different in many ways. Victimization is when something from a dramatic experience effects the minds of the victims and changes their mindset in many ways. For example, if a child is molested, later in life it often occurs that child is plagued with many psychological issues derived from that traumatic experience. This sort of experience often causes victimization. Victims that do suffer from victimization can often become offenders later in life, which continues the pattern of victimization.
Victim blaming occurs when the victim is made to feel as if it is their own fault that they were victimized. Men and women are being victimized more and more every day. Victims regularly put themselves in a position to become victims…show more content… (n.d.). Retrieved October 03, 2016, from http://criminal-justice.iresearchnet.com/crime/victimization/4/
ERIC - The Culpable Victim in Mendelsohn's Typology., 1976-Apr. (n.d.). Retrieved October 03, 2016, from http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ed140138
Message Boards. (n.d.). Retrieved October 03, 2016, from
