Victimology and criminal law : crime precipitated or programmed by the victim /

This unsuccessful attempt to resurrect victim culpability within an international and integrated theoretical framework draws upon inadequately developed biosocial, psychological, metaphysical, and legal jurist analyses (primarily Italian and Brazilian). Oliveira's too often incoherent writing style has resulted in a book that is in serious need of professional editing and that fails to adequately distinguish between "born victims" and "victim tendencies." In addition, the author's perspective is not only reductionistic, but also outdated. Oliveira uses a 1975 description of mental disorders that classifies homosexuality as sexual deviance or psychosexual dysfunction. And he labels sexually assertive women as nymphomaniacs, thereby as "seductive" women contributing to their own victimization. His three-part victim schema--programming victim, victim due to act of God, and victim of casus major--ignores power differences and the intersections between race, class, and gender. Summing Up: Not recommended. K. Baird-Olson California State University--Northridge