Understanding Theoretical Differences: Von Hintick vs. Mendelssohn

Background of Theorists

• Von Hintick
  • Active in the 1940s
  • Academic scholar
  • Focused on theory within academic environments
  • No practical exposure to criminal or victim situations
• Mendelssohn
  • Active in the 1950s
  • Practicing attorney
  • Experienced in real-life court systems and criminal interactions
  • Considered the father of victimology

Fundamental Differences

• Vision and Approach
  • Von Hintick theorizes based on academic thought without practical application.
  • Mendelssohn uses practical experience in courts to inform his theories.

Qualitative vs Quantitative Research

• Quantitative
  • Focus on statistics and numbers
• Qualitative
  • Emphasis on understanding the quality of phenomena and life itself

Mendelssohn's Contributions to Victimology

• Interpersonal Relationships
  • Explores relationships between victims and offenders
  • Introduces the concept of a strong interpersonal relationship in criminal acts
  • Seeks to identify what brings victims and offenders together in time and space

Six-Step Classification of Victims

1. Completely Innocent Victim
   • No provocation or facilitation by the victim
2. Victims with Minor Guilt
   • Inadvertently placed in compromising positions
3. Victims as Guilty as Offender
   • Includes suicide cases (victim and offender as one)
4. Voluntary Victims
   • Victims due to their own vice crimes
5. Victim More Guilty than Offender
   • Instigates or provokes criminal act
6. Simulating or Imaginary Victims
   • Claims victimization to cover other activities

Conceptual Advancements

• Degrees of Culpability
  • Establishes a framework to measure culpability
  • Advances understanding of victim-offender dynamic
  • Lays groundwork for empirical studies

Terms Coined by Mendelssohn

• Victimology
  • Study of victims
• Penal Couple
  • Criminal-victim relationship
• Victim All and Victimity
  • Scientific terms related to victimology and criminality
• Potential of Victim Receptivity
  • Examines propensity of individuals to be victimized

Psychological and Social Dimensions

• Discusses relationships such as master-slave dynamics in bondage
• Examines the mutual relationships in such contexts

Importance of Mendelssohn's Work

• Validated as foundational in victimology
• Emphasizes the importance of examining crime scenes and understanding interpersonal dynamics
• Introduces a structured approach to understanding victim-offender relationships