Triangle of Victimization

The Triangle of Victimization represents three elements that, when present, can lead to a person becoming a victim of an assault or crime. 

The first element is a target. This refers to the individual who is potentially vulnerable to attack. The second element is opportunity. This represents a situation where the attack is possible, such as being alone in a parking lot, or being distracted by a smartphone while alone at a park. The third is a predator. This element is the person who intends to carry out the attack.

If we can take away one of the elements, we drastically take away the predator's ability to carry out the attack. We can’t take away the existence of a predator, so we will look at the other two. First, we need to be as aware as we can of our surroundings and walk with an air of confidence; looking passerbys in the eyes. If we acknowledge that we see them, the predator will be less likely to choose us as a target. By actively anticipating potential threats and appearing aware, people can make themselves less appealing as a target.

Secondly, we need to do our best to not be alone in places that aren’t safe. If we are at the store late at night, we can ask a store employee to walk us out to our car. If we are at an overly crowded and chaotic place, like a concert, we can also make sure to stay with our friends.

In essence, the triangle of victimization is a framework for understanding how to prevent victimization by disrupting the factors that contribute to it.