
Contents
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I. Introduction I. Introduction
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II. Theoretical Perspectives on Victim Selection II. Theoretical Perspectives on Victim Selection
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A. The Structural–Choice Model of Victim Selection A. The Structural–Choice Model of Victim Selection
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B. Social Interactionism B. Social Interactionism
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C. Target Congruence C. Target Congruence
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III. Sources III. Sources
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A. Police Reports A. Police Reports
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B. Victimization Surveys B. Victimization Surveys
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C. Offender Interviews C. Offender Interviews
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IV. Findings IV. Findings
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A. Demographic Characteristics A. Demographic Characteristics
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1. Gender 1. Gender
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2. Age 2. Age
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3. Race and Ethnicity 3. Race and Ethnicity
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4. Income and Valuables 4. Income and Valuables
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B. Psychological Characteristics B. Psychological Characteristics
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1. Low Self-Control 1. Low Self-Control
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2. Internalizing Problems 2. Internalizing Problems
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3. Control Imbalances 3. Control Imbalances
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4. Externalizing Problem Behavior 4. Externalizing Problem Behavior
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5. Other 5. Other
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C. Physical Characteristics C. Physical Characteristics
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1. Disabilities 1. Disabilities
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2. Obesity 2. Obesity
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3. Physical Size and Strength 3. Physical Size and Strength
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4. Physical Attractiveness 4. Physical Attractiveness
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5. Other 5. Other
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D. Victim Behavior D. Victim Behavior
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1. Criminal Behavior 1. Criminal Behavior
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2. Expected Lack of Resistance and Retaliation 2. Expected Lack of Resistance and Retaliation
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3. Provocation 3. Provocation
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4. Alcohol and Drug Use 4. Alcohol and Drug Use
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5. Other 5. Other
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E. Biological Characteristics E. Biological Characteristics
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F. Prior Victimization F. Prior Victimization
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G. Relationship to the Offender G. Relationship to the Offender
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H. Effects of Victim Characteristics and Behavior on Offender Decision Making During Crimes H. Effects of Victim Characteristics and Behavior on Offender Decision Making During Crimes
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I. The Role of Randomness I. The Role of Randomness
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V. Future Research V. Future Research
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Acknowledgment Acknowledgment
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References References
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15 Victim Selection
Get accessMargit Averdijk is a senior research associate at the Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development of the University of Zurich. Her research interests include the study of victimization, social contexts of crime, and individuals’ development of violent behavior.
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Published:06 June 2017
Cite
Abstract
This chapter reviews what is known about victim selection—that is, the question of why offenders select some people, but not others, to be victims of crime. It first addresses theoretical perspectives on victim selection, namely the structural–choice model of victim selection, social interactionism, and target congruence. It then describes three data sources that have been used in prior research to study victim selection: police reports, victimization surveys, and offender interviews. Subsequently, empirical findings on victim selection are reviewed and organized into nine subsections: victims’ demographic characteristics, psychological characteristics, physical characteristics, behavior, biological characteristics, prior victimization, relationship to the offender, behavior during the offense, and the role of randomness. The final section discusses research gaps and potential future directions in the field, including an emphasis on theoretical explanations and mediators, cross-cultural studies, methodological innovation and diversity, interactions between victim and offender characteristics, and generality across crime types and subpopulations.
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