Victimology Compare and Contrast the Routine Activities Approach and the Lifestyle Theory Lifestyle theory in criminal justice focuses on crime victims rather than perpetrators. For perpetrators, there is the closely related “routine activities” theory, which stresses the lack of people and social structures that deter criminal activities. The main issue is that crime victims often become victims because of their own choices as to where to live, how to socialize and other lifestyle-related variables. (Johnson) Features According to lifestyle theory, people become victims of crime because they do not exercise intelligent or rational choice when putting themselves in social situations. In general, such social situations refer to the peer group, friends, social world and environment. Criminologist Larry Siegel holds that such things as an all-male peer group, urban environments, weapons-carrying and excessive partying are all tightly correlated with becoming victims of crime. (Johnson) While this theory places much of the onus of crime on the victims and their lack of care, other theories, such as the conflict theory, hold that social life itself is the cause of crime, in that those with power use the criminal justice system to protect themselves from those who do not. Theories such as the general decision theory hold that criminals become such because the criminal lifestyle is rational for them: no other options seem open to them. (Johnson) Function Lifestyle theory places the reality of victimization in the choices of the person. As a result, this falls under the category of a “rational choice” theory. This means that crime, whether in its commission or victimization, is based on the choices of both groups. People put themselves in harm's way when they mix with the wrong people and in the wrong situations. (Johnson) Benefits Lifestyle theory holds that if a person changes his life choices, he will become less likely to be victimized. For example, a person can change friends, move to a rural area and stop going to bars. This, according to this approach, will lessen the chances of the person's becoming a victim. Lifestyle changes, in short, can reduce crime risk. (Johnson) Effects While stressing choice, this approach also stresses social life. Social life, this theory implies, is itself a set of choices. Crime is then based on victims who deliberately put themselves in harm's way by identifying with those people or situations prone to crime. If one, for example, decides to go to bars regularly, this means that the home is often empty, and the car in places where intoxicated people gather. This is an invitation to crime. (Johnson) Considerations While lifestyle theory deals with victims, “routine activities” theory deals with criminals. These two theories are nearly identical, with the only difference being the points of view. Routine-activities theory holds that for a crime to be committed, three things need to be present. The first two ...

1. Victimology
Compare and Contrast the Routine Activities Approach and the
Lifestyle Theory
Lifestyle theory in criminal justice focuses on crime victims
rather than perpetrators. For perpetrators, there is the closely
related “routine activities” theory, which stresses the lack of
people and social structures that deter criminal activities. The
main issue is that crime victims often become victims because
of their own choices as to where to live, how to socialize and
other lifestyle-related variables. (Johnson)
Features
According to lifestyle theory, people become victims of crime
because they do not exercise intelligent or rational choice when
putting themselves in social situations. In general, such social
situations refer to the peer group, friends, social world and
environment. Criminologist Larry Siegel holds that such things
as an all-male peer group, urban environments, weapons-
carrying and excessive partying are all tightly correlated with
becoming victims of crime. (Johnson)
While this theory places much of the onus of crime on the
victims and their lack of care, other theories, such as the
conflict theory, hold that social life itself is the cause of crime,
in that those with power use the criminal justice system to
protect themselves from those who do not. Theories such as the
general decision theory hold that criminals become such
because the criminal lifestyle is rational for them: no other
options seem open to them. (Johnson)
Function
Lifestyle theory places the reality of victimization in the
choices of the person. As a result, this falls under the category
of a “rational choice” theory. This means that crime, whether in
its commission or victimization, is based on the choices of both
groups. People put themselves in harm's way when they mix

2. with the wrong people and in the wrong situations. (Johnson)
Benefits
Lifestyle theory holds that if a person changes his life choices,
he will become less likely to be victimized. For example, a
person can change friends, move to a rural area and stop going
to bars. This, according to this approach, will lessen the
chances of the person's becoming a victim. Lifestyle changes, in
short, can reduce crime risk. (Johnson)
Effects
While stressing choice, this approach also stresses social life.
Social life, this theory implies, is itself a set of choices. Crime
is then based on victims who deliberately put themselves in
harm's way by identifying with those people or situations prone
to crime. If one, for example, decides to go to bars regularly,
this means that the home is often empty, and the car in places
where intoxicated people gather. This is an invitation to crime.
(Johnson)
Considerations
While lifestyle theory deals with victims, “routine activities”
theory deals with criminals. These two theories are nearly
identical, with the only difference being the points of view.
Routine-activities theory holds that for a crime to be committed,
three things need to be present. The first two are easy: a
suitable target and criminal motivation. It is the third that
matters: lack of deterrence. This lack of deterrence can be as
simple as a lack of police officers in the area. However, more
significantly, it refers to a lack of a social structure that would
deter crime. (Johnson)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
“Routine activities” holds that a social structure, such as a
thriving economy, strong families, close-knit neighborhoods and
strong religious values, all work together to deter most crime.
Without these structures, criminality will flourish. Within the
study of criminology, the routine activities theory is an offshoot
of the rational choice theory, which posits that our actions are

3. the result of a conscious choices made after weighing our
options. According to routine activity theory, crime is not an
aberrant behavior, but a normal occurrence that should be fully
expected under the proper conditions. This theory is particularly
applicable to the study of delinquency. (Brent)
Routine Activities Theory
Proponents of routine activities theory believe that crime is
normal, but dependent upon the opportunities to commit the
crime. if the opportunity exists and the reward is great enough,
a crime is all but assured. For example, an easily accessible,
unmanned cash register in a convenience store would present
too tempting a target for some person to pass up, whether a
hardened criminal or someone who has never before committed
a crime. (Brent)
The Opportunity
According to this theory, responsibility for the crime lies more
with the victim than the offender. The most important factor in
whether a crime will be committed is not the presence of an
experienced criminal or a socially deviant person, but whether
there is an opportunity for a crime to be committed. In routine
activities theory, social issues such as poverty and
unemployment are not seen as factors in crime, as these do not
alter the opportunity. Therefore, it is not surprising that routine
activity theory is controversial among sociologists who believe
crime is the result of social factors. However, routine activities
theory does explain certain types of crime better than others,
such as illegal downloading of movies and music, office theft
and even embezzlement. In all these cases, the perpetrator is
unlikely to be a hardened criminal, and the crime is committed
because the opportunity exists. (Brent)
Three Elements
With respect to juvenile delinquency, routine activities theory
suggests that three elements must be in place to create the ideal
scenario for a crime to be committed. These are potential
offenders, suitable targets and guardians who are incapable,
unwilling or absent. The motivation behind the crime lies

4. primarily with the opportunity, and an unsupervised minor
presented with such an opportunity is easily tempted to commit
a crime. (Brent)
Preventing Crime
The routine activities theory is also effective in explaining the
motivations behind property crime, and also offers solutions for
preventing property crime. The theory implies that crime can be
prevented by disabling one of the three elements necessary for
creating the ideal opportunity. The theory suggests that a
potential victim can reduce his chances of becoming a victim of
crime by simply changing his activities and routines in such a
manner that either eliminates the opportunity or makes a crime
more difficult to commit. For example, varying your routine to
make periods of absences less predictable can greatly reduce the
opportunity. (Brent)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
Cohen & Felson's (1979) Routine Activities Theory - This one
is quite popular among victimologists today who are anxious to
test the theory. Briefly, it says that crime occurs whenever
three conditions come together: (1) suitable targets - and we'll
always have suitable targets as long as we have poverty; (2)
motivated offenders - and we'll always have motivated
offenders since victimology, unlike deterministic criminology,
assumes anyone will try to get away with something if they can;
and (3) absence of guardians - the problem is that there's few
defensible spaces (natural surveillance areas) and in the absence
of private security, the government can't do the job alone.
(Stevens)
The phenomena that criminals and victims often have the same
sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., are in relatively the
same age group) is known as the propinquity hypothesis; and
that criminals and victims often live in physical proximity to
one another is called the proximity hypothesis. (Stevens)

5. References
Brent, M., The Routine Activities Theory in Delinquency,
Retrieved from
http://www.ehow.com/info_8462976_routine-activities-theory-
delinquency.html
Johnson, W., What Is the Lifestyle Theory in Criminal Justice,
Retrieved from
http://www.ehow.com /about_6633747_lifestyle-theory-
criminal- justice_.html
Stevens, M., 2008, Theories in Victimology, Cohen & Felson's
(1979) Routine Activities Theory,
Retrieved from
http://faculty.ncwc.edu/mstevens/300/300lecturenote01.htm