Essentially, the lifestyle/exposure theory is a model of victimology that posits that the likelihood that an individual will suffer a personal victimisation depends heavily upon the concept of lifestyle. The lifestyle theory is constructed upon several premises. …show more content…
In general, such social situations refer to the peer group, friends, social world and environment. (Myrstol & Chermak. 2005: 467-472).
Criminologist Larry Siegel (Siegel and Welsh 2009) 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.
Lifestyle theory places the reality of victimisation 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 victimisation, 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.
Groups that have an extremely risky life, such as young runaways living on the street, are at high risk for victimisation; the more time they are exposed to street life, the greater their risk of becoming crime victims (Siegel and Welsh 2009).
An important aspect related to lifestyle explanations of victimisation are the concepts of victim precipitation and victim