NCJ Number
44980
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
STUDIES ON ECONOMIC, PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, EXPOSED, SOCIAL, AND STRUCTURAL VULNERABILITY ARE DISCUSSED AS THEY RELATE TO THE VICTIMIZATION OF OLDER PERSONS LIVING IN CITIES.
Abstract
THE CONCEPT OF VULNERABILITY HOLDS THAT THE ROLE OF THE VICTIM IS PRIMARILY THAT OF BEING AVAILABLE TO A PERPETRATOR OR BEING A LIKELY PROSPECT DUE TO HELPLESSNESS OR SOME OTHER VULNERABLE CONDITION. THE ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY OF THE ELDERLY SHOULD BE AT A MINIMUM COMPARED TO THAT OF YOUNGER, WORKING INDIVIDUALS. HOWEVER, SEVERAL FACTORS GREATLY INCREASE THAT VULNERABILITY IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT, E.G., THE RECEIPT OF SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS AT REGULAR INTERVALS AND THE NEED TO CARRY CASH DUE TO DIFFICULTIES IN OBTAINING CREDIT. STUDIES IN BOSTON AND KANSAS CITY SUGGEST THAT THE PHYSICAL DISABILITIES OF OLDER PEOPLE AS WELL AS THEIR GENERAL PHYSICAL WEAKNESSES MARK THEM AS IDEAL VICTIMS. PSYCHOLOGICAL VULNERABILITY RELATES TO THE FEAR OF VICTIMIZATION AMONG THE ELDERLY, AS WELL AS TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT A FEAR OF DEATH MAY CAUSE OLDER PERSONS TO RESIST OFFENDERS MORE THAN IS NECESSARY. THE THEORY OF EXPOSED VULNERABILITY HOLDS THAT PEOPLE ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO VICTIMIZATION IF THEY ARE MORE EXPOSED TO CRIME. ALTHOUGH EXPOSED VULNERABILITY OF THE ELDERLY IN URBAN HIGH-CRIME AREAS MAY BE LIMITED BY ELDERLY PERSONS' RELUCTANCE TO PLACE THEMSELVES IN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, THE ABILITY OF MANY TO AVOID EXPOSED VULNERABILITY IS LIMITED BY THEIR PROXIMITY TO CRIME AND DELINQUENCY. SOCIAL VULNERABILITY, WHICH RELATES TO THE EXTENT OF HUMAN INTERACTION AS IT AFFECTS VICTIMIZATION, MAY BE INFLUENCED BY THE SOCIAL ISOLATION OF THE ELDERLY. STRUCTURAL VULNERABILITY -- THE EFFECT OF PHYSICAL SURROUNDINGS ON VICTIMIZATION -- ALSO HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ELDERLY, MANY OF WHOM OCCUPY APARTMENTS NEAR THE GROUND FLOOR. RESEARCH TOPICS IN THE AREA OF VULNERABILITY AND VICTIMIZATION OF THE ELDERLY ARE SUGGESTED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.