VICTIM OF ROBBERY

• NCJ Number: 7311
• Author(s): G A Syvrud
• Date Published: 1967
• Length: 241 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: UNPUBLISHED DISSERTATION

Annotation

INQUIRY INTO THE ROLE OF THE VICTIM IN THE CRIME PROBLEM, THE PERSONAL DAMAGE INVOLVED, AND THE VICTIM'S PERCEPTION OF HIS EXPERIENCE.

Abstract

THE CENTRAL FOCUS OF ATTENTION WAS TO CONSIDER THE VICTIM OF CRIME AND HIS RESPONSE TO IT WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF HIS DEFINITION OF THE SITUATION. THE DEFINITION OF THE SITUATION AND ITS COMPONENT ELEMENTS ARE CONSTRUED AS THE SOURCE FOR PRODUCING SUBSEQUENT BEHAVIORAL AND ATTITUDINAL RESPONSES TO VICTIMIZATION. THE CONCEPTS OF CRISIS AND RESULTING DISSONANCE ARE CENTRAL TO THE STUDY. WITH RESPECT TO IMMEDIATE PSYCHO-PHYSICAL REACTIONS TO ROBBERY, THE ROBBERY EVOKES A DEFINITE CRISIS RESPONSE. MARKED DIFFERENCES WERE FOUND BETWEEN THOSE WHO WERE INJURED PHYSICALLY AND THOSE WHO WERE NOT, BETWEEN FEMALES AND MALES, AND BETWEEN THOSE WHO WERE ROBBED IN OR NEAR THEIR HOMES AND THOSE WHO WERE ROBBED ELSEWHERE. ALMOST HALF OF THE VICTIMS STUDIED REPORTED THAT THE ROBBERY WAS THE MOST DISTURBING EXPERIENCE THEY HAD HAD WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER DISTURBING LIFE EXPERIENCES. PUNITIVE AND NONPUNITIVE REACTIONS TO ROBBERY WERE ALSO EXPLORED. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDIES IN THE AREA OF VICTIMOLOGY ARE INCLUDED. THE APPENDIX INCLUDES A QUESTIONNAIRE (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)