SOC 2700 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Victimology, Moral Agency, Physiognomy

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 2700
• Professor: Reza Barmaki

Document Summary

Emerged out of criminology in the 60"s and 70"s. Criminology is offender focused whereas victimology is victim focused. Victomology studies the social context in which victims exist. To be a victim you have ultimately had pain inflicted upon you (could be physical or psychological pain) Harm according to corrections and conditional release act (1992): physical or psychological pain . A victim can be an individual or it can be a group of people (collective) There are also primary and secondary victims (you could have had your wallet stolen aka you are the primary victim but your parents are also emotionally impacted aka they are the secondary victims) Sources of victimization can be individuals or institutions (aka gay rights movement, women"s rights movement etc. ) Third element= need a moral agent who knows the difference between right and wrong (aka someone who is mentally ill or a child doesn"t necessarily know the different between right and wrong)