Cursos / 1º Ciclo / Faculty of Law :: Criminology

INTRODUÇÃO À VITIMOLOGIA - 2023/2024

2º curricular year
Semestralidade: 1st semester
ECTS: 6

Teachers

Leading Teacher: Prof. Doutora Gabriela Mesquita Borges
Assistant Professor: Prof. Doutora Gabriela Mesquita Borges

Class type and School hours

Teórico-prática : 2 Horas
Orientação Tutorial : 1 Horas

Teaching Language

Portuguese

Main Aims/Objectives

This curricular unit aims to provide a general and introductory perspective of the scientific field of Victimology. The emergence of Victimology as an area of scientific knowledge will be addressed, along with its position in relation to Criminology. In addition, a reflection on the role of the victim in the crime will be carried out and the main theories of victimization will be explored.

Specific Aims/Objectives

i. Analyze the historical and theoretical evolution of Victimology, understanding its emergence and development over time.
ii. Understand the theoretical perspectives and their contributions to the understanding of victimization.
iii. Explore research methods, the advantages and limitations of each method and critically evaluate research studies in the area.
iv. Reflect on the position of the victim in research and in society, considering the ethics, dignity and rights of victims.

Skills to be acquired

i. Explore different theoretical and conceptual approaches related to Victimology, including psychological, sociological and legal perspectives.
ii. Develop critical analysis skills to examine and assess issues of victimization, including risk factors, consequences for victims, and institutional responses.
iii. Formulate reasoned arguments, considering different perspectives and empirical evidence.

Teaching Procedures

The teaching methodology adopted in this course is composed of a combination of theoretical and practical classes, providing a comprehensive approach for students. During theoretical classes, the syllabus taught will be based on a careful selection of relevant literature in the area. In practical classes, students will have the opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired through practical exercises.

Programme

1 - Victimology: theoretical background
1.1. The emergence of the victim as an object of study
1.1.1. Concepts of victim and victimization
1.1.2. The role of victim in crime
1.1.3. The dyad offender-victim
1.2. The emergence of victimology as a discipline
1.2.1. Historical and theoretical course of Victimology: ´Blaming the Victim´; General victimology; Critical victimology; Crime victims? movement
1.2.2. Victimology vs. Criminology
1.2.3. Main theories of victimization: Precipitation by the victim; Lifestyle theories; Learning and culture theories; Control theories

2 - Research on Victimology: The methods
2.1. Official reports
2.2. Victimization surveys
2.3. The Portuguese reality

3. The process of victimization
3.1. Victimization primary and secondary
3.2. Dynamics of victimization
3.3. Types of victimization

4. The rights of victims
4.1. Legal and social support mechanisms for the victim
4.2. Legal and social mechanisms to protect victims
4.3. Intervention with crime victims: Crisis intervention
4.5. Intervention with victims: strategies, mechanisms and ethical assumptions
4.6. Ethical issues in the development of scientific investigations with victims

Evaluation Type

1. Distributed Assessment: Two written points will be made, lasting 50 minutes each, throughout the semester, to assess the students´ progress.

2. Final Assessment: The final assessment will be carried out through a frequency, lasting 2 hours, in which the contents studied during the semester will be addressed.

Teaching Resources

Didactic resources:

i. Use of audiovisual resources to enrich lessons, including videos, multimedia presentations and relevant visual aids.

ii. Analysis of selected scientific texts, promoting critical reading and in-depth understanding of the topics covered in the curricular unit.

iii. Realization of practical exercises that involve the application of the learned concepts, allowing the students a practical and concrete experience related to the theoretical contents.

Sustainability Objectives

Keywords

1. Victimology
2. Victim
3. Vitimization
4. Methods
5. Dynamics of victimization
6. Intervention
7. Ethics

Main Bibliography

Complementary Bibliography