A decade or two ago some publicity was given to studies into victimology and the uncomfortable conclusions arrived at by psychologists
True Crime October 1994
£5.00
Description
A decade or two ago some publicity was given to studies into victimology and the uncomfortable conclusions arrived at by psychologists leading the study. There are people, it would appear, who are born victims – or at least who learn to be victims- and who actively seek to put themselves in danger. It was an unpopular theory, especially with anyone concerned with crimes of violence, because it appeared to lay some of the blame at the door of the victims themselves. That way, it could be argued, battered wives can be blamed for their own injuries as they are the ones responsible for marrying their violent husbands. And murderers can vindicate themslves in part by claiming that their victims in some way provoked them.
No matter how unpleasant the idea is, the truths embedded in theories of victimology are no less real – but ought to make very little difference to the course of the law! Each of us has to take responsibility for his or her own behaviour, and to decline invitations to violence. The notion that victims are in some measure responsible for the harm done to them can of course be applied to almost any case which appears in our magazines, though some more readily than others.
DURHAM PRISON MURDERER RELEASED TO KILL AGAIN!
STATESIDE REPORT
WHICH WIFE-BASHING HUSBAND CLUBBED JOY TO DEATH?
THE STRANGE AFFAIR AT PLUCKLY GRANGE
COMMENT
More of your letters
WILLIAM WEBSTER – HANGED BY THE PRICK OF A NEEDLE
Part 5 in series The Black Kalendar of Aberdeen
THE CREWE AXE MURDER
PARENT KILLERS
THE LETHAL AFFAIR OF CHRISTINA GILMOUR
BLOODY VALENTINE
Modern murder horror
COUNTED OUT BY BULLETS
POLICE DISPATCHER’S SIX-YEAR QUEST TO IDENTIFY MURDER VICTIM
