As you have read, Mendelsohn (1976) saw general victimology as addressing five distinct
types of victims. In addition to crime victims, he saw self-victimization, social victims,
technological victims, and victims of the natural environment as legitimate focal concerns.
All these victims suffer some degree of social or physical pain or loss. Each
deserves assistance to offset the devastating effects of the victimization episode.
While Mendelsohn’s vision of general victimology is quite impressive, it does cover
a huge territory. Because Mendelsohn’s approach is such a large undertaking, we will
confine ourselves to a more manageable task. For that reason, this text must restrict
itself to only the first category—crime victims. By the time you finish this book, we
think you will agree with us. Victimology is so broad and complex that it makes sense
to look at it in slices.