Citation

Zavala E. Vict. Offender 2018; 13(7): 1013-1032.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15564886.2018.1520765

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Prior research has demonstrated that the correlates of criminal behavior are also the same for victimization. Therefore, theories traditionally used to explain criminal behavior have now been used to explain victimization. However, less attention has been paid to determine whether risk factors known to increase victimization also increases criminal behavior, given that past victimization is a predictor of future offending. The author analyzed data from the National Survey of Weapon-Related Experience, Behaviors, and Concerns of High School Youth in the United States (N = 689) to determine whether propositions derived from target congruence theory also explains this victim-offender overlap. Specifically, the author tested the influence of target vulnerability, target gratifiability, and target antagonism on victimization and criminal behavior among male youths.

RESULTS from logistic regression models showed that some of these theoretical constructs positively and significantly predicted victimization and criminal behavior. This study does provide initial support for target congruence theory and its ability to explain criminal behavior, and provides new risk factors not previously documented by scholars.

Language: en

Keywords

antagonism; gratifiability; target congruence theory; Victim-offender overlap; vulnerability