VICTIMOLOGICAL CYCLE

• NCJ Number: 52585
• Journal: Victimology Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (FALL 1976) Pages: 379-395
• Author(s): R A BALL
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: Visage Press, Inc
• Sale Source: West Virginia University Forensic Science Initiative
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE GENERIC PROCESSES OF VICTIMIZATION ARE DESCRIBED ON THE INTERPERSONAL, INTERSOCIETAL, AND INTRASOCIETAL LEVELS.

Abstract

USING THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN MICROPROCESSES AND MACROPROCESSES, THE CONCEPT OF THE VICTIMOLOGICAL CYCLE IS TREATED IN TERMS OF MUTUAL VICTIMIZATION AT THE LEVEL OF INTERACTION AMONG INDIVIDUALS AND AT THE LEVEL OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DIFFERENT SOCIETIES OR SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY. THE VICTIMOLOGICAL CYCLE IS REGARDED AS REPRESENTATIVE OF A FORM OF DYSFUNCTIONAL DIALECTICS WHICH CAN OCCUR AT VARIOUS LEVELS OF SYSTEM COMPLEXITY. TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS IS USED AS AN EXAMPLE OF MICROPROCESSUAL ANALYSIS, AND THE THEORY OF SUBCULTURES IS USED AS AN EXAMPLE OF MACROPROCESSUAL ANALYSIS. THE FUNDAMENTAL VICTIMOLOGICAL PROCESSES ARE CATEGORIZED AS REGRESSION AND RESIGNATION. VARIOUS FORMS OF THE VICTIMIZATION CYCLE ARE ANALYZED: RECIPROCAL AGGRESSION, IN WHICH EACH INDIVIDUAL AGGRESSIVELY ATTEMPTS TO TRAP THE OTHER; AGGRESSION-REGRESSION, IN WHICH ONE INDIVIDUAL INDUCES ANOTHER TO HUMILIATE HIMSELF; AGGRESSION-REGRESSION, IN WHICH THE AGGRESSION OF ONE INDIVIDUAL IS MET WITH PATIENT RESIGNATION ON THE PART OF ANOTHER; RECIPROCAL REGRESSION, IN WHICH EACH INDIVIDUAL EXAGGERATES HIS DEPENDENCY UPON THE OTHER; REGRESSION-RESIGNATION, IN WHICH ONE INDIVIDUAL BECOMES RESIGNED TO A SITUATION ELICITING FURTHER REGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR FROM ANOTHER; AND RECIPROCAL RESIGNATION, IN WHICH BOTH INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCE MUTUAL RESIGNATION. AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO DEMONSTRATE THE NATURE OF VICTIMOLOGY AS A SEPARATE AREA OF INQUIRY WHICH IS AT THE SAME TIME RELEVANT TO CRIMINOLOGY. CRIMINALITY IS TREATED AS THE RESULT OF A GENERAL VICTIMOLOGICAL CYCLE MADE UP OF CRIMOGENESIS AND VICTIMOGENESIS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE TRACED TO SIMILAR VICTIMOLOGICAL PROCESSES. AN UNDERSTANDING OF VICTIMOLOGICAL PROCESSES CAN CONTRIBUTE A GREAT DEAL TO THE CLARIFICATION OF LEGAL QUESTIONS CENTERING AROUND FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. REFERENCES FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--FCW)