The Victim Precipitation Theory
Marvin Wolfgang introduced the term victim precipitation in the 20th century. This theory relates to why and how crime occurs. Unlike other theories that concentrate on the offender’s intention and acts, the victim precipitation theory focuses on the relationship between the offender and the victim. In this case, the victim is also considered as an active participant in the crime by assuming that they encourage or provoke the offender to commit am crie. This theory is mostly used for cases such as assault, rape, and homicide, among others.
The Lifestyle Theory
According to lifestyle theory, certain people become victims of crime as a result of their life choices and lifestyle. Based on this theory, crime occurs in a developmental process that involves the interaction of variables, including choice, incentive, and opportunity. For example, a person who wears expensive jewelry or associates with criminals is more likely to be victimized.
The Routine Activity Theory
The routine theory applies the use of different factors that determine the possibility of victims being attacked. This theory, therefore, describes factors that contribute to an offender committing a crime mostly based on their daily activities. According to the developers of the theory Cohen, and Felson, victimization revolves around three factors, including the potential offender, a suitable target, and the absence of an appropriate guardian.
In my opinion, the victim precipitation theory is more accurate since it considers both the victim and the offender. This consideration helps to analyze the situation accurately since some victims are antagonistic, hence increasing the chance of becoming targets. On the other hand, the routine activity theory is the least accurate since it assumes that people make decisions in a rational manner, which is not always the case.