1

Analysis of Victim Precipitation Theory: Awareness of Actions

Contributing to Criminality Among Individuals"

Racel Kristian D. Astrero

Mia Anne Muaña

Jhoana Apple Banag

Shaun Joseph Smith

Tarlac State University College of Criminal Justice Education

Mr. Ricardo Mariano

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CHAPTER 1

Introduction

Victimization and crime are frequently seen as isolated events, with the

perpetrator's acts being the focus. However, victim precipitation theory suggests that,

in certain situations, the victim's behavior may purposefully or inadvertently lead to

the commission of a crime. By arguing that people may actively contribute to their

victimization by their actions, attitudes, routines, or choices, this theory questions the

conventional view of crime. Criminological theory that directs the research and

analysis of crime victims include victim precipitation, lifestyle, deviant places, and

routine activities theories. Every one of these theories aims to clarify the many causes

of victimization. The methods enable professionals or mostly individuals who have

enough knowledge to create strategies to reduce the victimization rate of individuals

who are disproportionately vulnerable. Also, workable solutions such as attending

programs, informative seminars, pertaining to reducing chances of being victimized.

Both criminological theory and workable solutions depend on an understanding of

such behaviors and the root causes of criminal incidents.

A major focus of this research is people's understanding of the behaviors that

lead to criminality, especially how they view their own acts in connection to criminal

incidents. People might not always be aware of how their activities could affect their

safety and well-being, whether through overt provocations, dangerous situations, or

bad choices. This lack of awareness can affect both personal outcomes and broader

societal responses to crime prevention. Despite the importance of victim precipitation

theory in criminology, there remains limited empirical research on how people

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perceive their part in these dynamics. Additionally, the understanding of victim

conduct, and accountability is the tendency of society attitudes to hold victims

accountable for the crimes perpetrated against them. Studying people's awareness of

their actions that may lead to criminal activity and how these views might guide the

creation of more effective crime prevention tactics, victim support systems, and the

development of more effective crime prevention strategies.

Through analyzing these interactions, the study aims to advance a more

knowledgeable understanding of crime, victimization, and personal accountability by

providing information on how people can lessen their risk of becoming victims of

crime while simultaneously improving societal reactions to crime and justice.

Theoretical Framework

This study is founded on the theory of Marvin Wolfgang (1958) wherein he

emphasizes that victim precipitation is where the victim was the ultimate aggressor in

the action that led to their harm or loss. Another study is founded by Brittany

McKenna saying that the victim is viewed as an active participant in the crime. This

happens in two ways: first, the victim is the partaker in the crime who acts first; and

second, the victim provokes the offender to commit the crime. Consequently, this

view as the victim itself as responsible for what happened to them and ignore the

causes that led to crime.

Research like Wolfgang’s (1958) and Brittany McKenna has given rise to the

phenomenon of victim blaming. Victim blaming occurs when the victim of a crime is
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held responsible, in whole or in part, for their own victimization (Canadian Resource

Centre for Victims of Crime [CRCVC], 2009a).

However, another study about victim precipitation was found by Benjamin

Mendelson wherein he emphasizes the factors that causes a crime to be committed

and the victim being a victim. First, the precipitating factors wherein the victim is at

the wrong place and wrong time. Second, the attracting factors or the lifestyle,

routine, options, and choices that the victim had. It is where you display your

luxurious lifestyle that attracts the offender. And the last is the predisposing factor. It

includes the socio-demographic characteristics of a victim’s being male, female,

elderly, poor, minority, being unemployed and many more.

Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework for “Analysis of Victim Precipitation Theory:

Awareness of Actions Contributing to Criminality Among Individuals” research is to

know about the actions that can lead to becoming a victim, and to develop awareness

and safety precautions towards victimization. This framework gives knowledge on

how each variable affects one another, how they affect the safety of the lives of people

and the potential crime that can happen.

Independent Variable: Understanding Actions That Lead to Victimization

Having knowledge of actions that cause victimization is an independent

variable, for it drastically improves one’s safety, by simply improving and avoiding

behaviors that lead to being victimized.

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Dependent Variable: Increased Safety and Perception Towards Avoiding

Victimization

With the increase of safety and perception, people’s lives will have less

problems and interruptions, ensuring a harmonious, trusting and unproblematic

society, one that can leave a brighter future for everybody.

Moderator Variable: Level of Safety and Perception of Individuals

Crime can come in many forms, thus not everyone is 100% safe, no matter

how much one tries to be safe or avoidant. Everyone is different, crime is handled

differently by everyone, some are more easily fooled, and some are more easily

forced. It is this difference in everyone that may affect the chances of one successfully

or unsuccessfully avoiding victimization.

In conclusion, the independent variable of understanding actions that lead to

victimization improves the everyday man’s avoidance of becoming a victim.

Afterwards, the effect that it has on dependent variable is that everyone gets to live

their lives peacefully, without any harmful interruptions, improving the efficiency and

productivity of society. The moderating variable is the physical and mental differences

of people, how some people are more naturally better at avoiding being fooled, and

some are much better at handling physical confrontations, this affects everyone’s

approach towards different kinds of crime. To attain as much safety as possible,

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awareness and safety precautions must be provided and frequently improved, it must

be researched thoroughly to handle the variables and improve human life safety.

RESEARCH

PARADIGM Dependent Variable:

Independent Variable:
Increased Safety and
Understanding Actions That
Perception Towards
Lead to Victimization
Avoiding Victimization

Moderator Variable:
Level of Safety and Perception of
Individuals

The study of victim precipitation theory benefits several groups, including:

1. Victims

Self-awareness, education, support and counseling. It gives the victims the knowledge

that their decisions and actions may lead to their harm and loss that's why they

observe self-preventive measures and strategies. It also gives them realization that

their acts do not justify their actions, but it can give provocation to the perpetrator.

2. Criminal Justice Professionals

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Law enforcement officers, judges, and prosecutors. It can give them realization and

understanding that the victims unwillingly contributed to the crimes committed for

them to avoid misinterpretation and for the judges and prosecutors to give fair

treatment to the victims.

3. Researchers and Academics

Sociologists and criminologists: For them to gain deeper understanding into the

collaboration between victims and offenders, helping them to improve their studies

about theories of crime and victimization.

4. Community and Society

Crime prevention initiatives between the society and awareness and education

programs for the people for them to avoid risky situations.

5. Perpetrators (Indirectly)

This study offers insights into offender-victim dynamics, which can be used in

rehabilitation programs or practices to address why offenders gain certain victim

behaviors.

It is important to note that the study of victim precipitation theory must be applied

carefully to avoid victim-blaming, focusing instead on understanding dynamics to

promote prevention of crime and justice.

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SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

In this Study we will examine individuals across different demographics, including

but not limited to age, gender, socioeconomic status, and education level. The study

will look at people's knowledge of how their choices, activities, routines, or behaviors

—like abusing drugs, going out alone at night, or visiting dangerous places—may

subtly encourage criminal activity. The specific place where we will conduct our

research is only in Tarlac City. We aim to inform people from this place about the

concept of victimization and influence them about awareness of one's actions that

might contribute to becoming a victim. We are conducting this research from the time

frame of 2024-2025.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Victim Precipitation Theory – A theory that proposes that a victim makes choices,

behaviors, routines, lifestyle that provoke, encourage, or give rise to crime.

Victimization – defines the intentional action of a victim of a crime. It mainly focuses

on the actions made by the victim leading to him being victimized.

Victim –are those individuals who suffers harm, injury, or loss of life due to an event,

action, or circumstances often involving a crime, accident, or abuse.

Lifestyle Theory – States that an individual’s social status can attract criminal

activity towards them, specifically because of their properties and belongings

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Deviant Place Theory – This theory means that a person becomes more vulnerable to

crime because of them visiting a place frequently that a perpetrator of a crime tries to

intercept them with their usual routine of going to that place.

Routine Activity Theory – highlights that crime happens when these three elements

converge:

1. A motivated offender,

2. A suitable target,

3. The absence of a capable guardian.

Statement of the Problem

The Study aimed to determine the level of awareness of individuals regarding the

principles of Victim Precipitation Theory on Tarlac city: It specifically answers the

following questions:

1. What is the level of awareness among individuals regarding the principles of

Victim Precipitation Theory as to the following variables:

1.1. Information sources

1.2. Action perception

2. What are the common actions identified by individuals as contributing to

criminality based on Victim Precipitation Theory as to the following variables?

2.1. Provocative behaviors

2.2. Intent vs. provocation

2.3. Demographic patterns

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3. What is the relationship between individuals' awareness of Victim Precipitation

Theory and their personal safety practices as to the following variables?

3.1. Awareness and precautions

3.2. Safety practice differences

3.3. Risk recognition

4. What advocacy plan can be proposed based on the study's findings?

CHAPTER 2

Review of Related Literature

Foreign Related Literature (5)

Balogun, O. S., Akangbe, T. A., & Salihu, H. A. (2021, February). CRIMINAL

VICTIMISATION: CONCEPTUALAND THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES

[Review of CRIMINAL VICTIMISATION: CONCEPTUALAND THEORETICAL

PERSPECTIVES]. Research Gate; Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ilorin,

P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kayode-Asaju/publication/355820516_THE_IN

TRICATE_OF_GLOBALIZATION_AND_DEVELOPMENT_ADMINISTRATION_

IN_NIGERIA/links/62ac47dc23f3283e3aef35f3/THE-INTRICATE-OF-

GLOBALIZATION-AND-DEVELOPMENT-ADMINISTRATION-IN-

NIGERIA.pdf#page=146
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Ballard, M. M., & Kubrin, C. E. (2023). Immigrant Victimization: Centering

Language inTheory, Data and Method. Societies, 13(4), 101.

https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13040101

Petherick, W., Kannan, A., & Brooks, N. (2020). Victim precipitation: an outdated

construct or an important forensic consideration? Journal of Forensic Psychology

Research and Practice, 21(3), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/24732850.2020.1850087

Berg, M. T., & Schreck, C. J. (2021). The Meaning of the Victim–Offender Overlap

for Criminological Theory and Crime Prevention Policy. Annual Review of

Criminology, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-criminol-030920-120724

WHAT IS VICTIMOLOGY? (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2024, from

https://us.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-assets/116896_book_item_116896.pdf?

fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0BPoDhxmbMx7lPSnq1RJ8klURoxjCljloPZK

s7__wTZiXoVx_VAwZUEY4_aem_I1sAuL1sVR0ffnHW5vOVSQ

‌Local Related Literature (5)

Victim Precipitation Theory.pptx - Victim Precipitation Theory & Incapacitation |

Course Hero. (2022). Coursehero.com.

https://www.coursehero.com/file/140891302/Victim-Precipitation-Theorypptx/?

fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0sOSZoJrtnoRpZf6em1oyo9WCrUF03g5kSm

x925aeXfGfDAqOSZql0iM4_aem_Slwso-BsIBZRplnml31JVA

Theory of Victim Precipitation.docx - Theory of Victim Precipitation In the victim

precipitation theory the victim’s attributes cause the crime to | Course Hero. (2021).

Coursehero.com.https://www.coursehero.com/file/117056399/Theory-of-Victim-

Precipitationdocx/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2vZ5gD-
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gUtibsBLxRHGs8aIPNpT2IXjU2dg8zZvWNRI_9PCj71FS7jXc_aem_HWdt0c31SW

7iy88f4GKgrg

Victims AND Offenders-converted - 1 st (Review Material) Final Term

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY - Studocu. (2022). Studocu.

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criminology/victims-and-offenders-converted/83929001?

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KFIqBxlxVHBZIURJWZU_aem___nK9vD64juN8wcP697OLg

Crim 1 - Notes - MODULE No. 3 INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY (CRIM 1)

D. Victimology  Victim ology, a - Studocu. (2021). Studocu.

https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/far-eastern-university-diliman/science-

technology-and-society/crim-1-notes/47272660

UNIT 5 Human Behavior AND Victimology Lecture PART 2 - HUMAN

BEHAVIOUR AND VICTIMOLOGY THEORIES OF - Studocu. (2021). Studocu.

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victimology-lecture-part-2/40659953

‌Synthesis of Related Literature

The review of related literature has a connection on our study. Mostly of the reviews

focused on the statement that victim precipitation and Victimization proves that acts

of victims provoke offenders to harm, inflict injury, or commit crime against them.

Researchers like Von Hentig (1940), Siegel (2006), Wolfgang, (1966), Amir (1967),

Conklin, (2007), Karmen, (1990) provided important and closely relevant information

that our study needed.

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Foreign Related Studies (5)

Thunberg, S. (2020). Victimization, Positioning, and Support : Young Victims’

Experiences of Crime. DIVA; Örebro University.

https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1412894&dswid=7566

Suonpää, K., & Savolainen, J. (2019). When a Woman Kills Her Man: Gender and

Victim Precipitation in Homicide. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 34(11), 2398–

2413. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519834987

Holder, R. L., & Englezos, E. (2023). Victim participation in criminal justice: A

quantitative systematic and critical literature review. International Review of

Victimology, 30(1), 026975802311512. https://doi.org/10.1177/02697580231151207

Long, L. J. (2021). The Ideal victim: a Critical Race Theory (CRT) Approach.

International Review of Victimology, 27(3), 344–362.

https://doi.org/10.1177/0269758021993339

Holder, R. L., & Englezos, E. (2023). Victim participation in criminal justice: A

quantitative systematic and critical literature review. International Review of

Victimology, 30(1), 026975802311512. https://doi.org/10.1177/02697580231151207

Local Related Studies (5)

Detran, A., & Crim. (2021). International Journal of Innovative Science and Research

Technology, 6(5). https://www.ijisrt.com/assets/upload/files/IJISRT21MAY411.pdf?

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fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR06kr855rXzsozJvrQGe6f8MLjxyjzBSNPYoxb

WDVZzCSWPgAYv_c-9iPE_aem_M892lDTvDNsSOb0qrTR11A

Baldo, C. O., Donasco, A. M., Toledo, N. B., & Malinao, M. C. (2021). Predictors of

Fear of Criminal Victimization at School Among Students. SMCC Higher Education

Research Journal (Criminal Justice), 4(1), 1–1.

https://ejournals.ph/article.php?

id=16593&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2vZ5gD-gUtibsBLxRHGs8

aIPNpT2IXjU2dg8zZvWNRI_9PCj71FS7jXc_aem_HWdt0c31SW7iy88f4GKgrg

BEST. (2024). ROLE OF VICTIMS IN COMMISSION OF A CRIME. Scribd.

https://www.scribd.com/document/524873221/ROLE-OF-VICTIMS-IN-

COMMISSION-OF-A-CRIME?

fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3ggtE5w6uyVGkc2w8el0Vuh8afTJHp-

DRStjn6KFIqBxlxVHBZIURJWZU_aem___nK9vD64juN8wcP697OLg

Johnston-Guerrero, M. P., & Combs, L. D. (2023). Engaging whiteness within

mixedness: multiracial Filipina/o American scholars’ journeys towards belonging.

Whiteness and Education, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/23793406.2023.2182230

Liene Leikuma-Rimicane, Ceballos, R. F., & Norman, M. (2022). Location and Type

of Crimes in The Philippines: Insights for Crime Prevention and Management. 17(1),

22–33.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/365791419_Location_and_Type_of_Crimes
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_in_The_Philippines_Insights_for_Crime_Prevention_and_Management?

fbclid=Iw+Xh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR06kr855rXzsozJvrQGe6f8MLjxyjzBSNPYoxb

WDVZzCSWPgAYv_c-9iPE_aem_M892lDTvDNsSOb0qrTR11A

Synthesis of Related Studies

Various review of related studies also cited those theories like Lifestyle Theory,

Routine Activity Theory, Deviant Place Theory are strongly interconnected to victim

precipitation. Researchers like Siegel, (2007), (Purpura, 2019), Cohen and Felson

(1979), Alemika, (2013), (Madero, 2018), (McKenna, n.d.), Myers, (2016) again

supplied crucial and important information that our study needed.