USE OF THE VICTIM AS AN AGENT OF SELF-LEGITIMIZATION TOWARD A DYNAMIC EXPLANATION OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR

• NCJ Number: 35518
• Journal: Victimology - An International Journal Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1976) Pages: 29-53
• Author(s): E A FATTAH
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 25 pages
• Corporate Author: Visage Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE AUTHOR ATTEMPTS TO INTEGRATE THE MOTIVATIONAL INTERACTIONIST, AND VICTIMOLOGICAL APPROACHES IN ORDER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND CRIMINAL AND DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR.

Abstract

THE APPROACH IS SAID TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT, BECAUSE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IS DYNAMIC, IT CAN BE EXPLAINED ONLY THROUGH A DYNAMIC APPROACH, WHERE THE DELINQUENT, THE ACT AND THE VICTIM ARE INSEPARABLE ELEMENTS OF A TOTAL SITUATION WHICH CONDITIONS THE DIALECTIC OF THE ANTISOCIAL CONDUCT. THE AUTHOR ATTEMPTS TO SHOW WHY CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS OR ORGANIZATIONS ARE MORE POPULAR TARGETS FOR VICTIMIZATION THAN OTHERS, AND TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE ROLE THE VICTIM PLAYS IN THE JUSTIFICATION AND RATIONALIZATION PROCESSES, AND HOW IT IS OFTEN USED BY THE POTENTIAL DELINQUENT AS A MEANS OF SELF-LEGITIMIZATION.