Working Paper: 544

Understanding the Pathways from Victimisation to
Offending: Voices from the Field

Shreejata Niyogi

 

Abstract

The narrative analysis of this paper, based on 15 cases attempts to understand the experiences of childhood abuse leading to the development of aggressive behaviour among the participants. Drawing from ‘Marginalisation theory’ and Bourdieu’s concept of ‘Habitus’, with the help of empirical evidence, the findings of this study analyses that prolonged victimisation has been instrumental in the internalisation and normalisation of abusive and violent behaviour among the participants. Chosen by non-probability purposive and snowball sampling, the respondents are formerly convicted women inmates who have been victims of abuse and harassment in their early life. Based on the interviews conducted, four different stages of the pathway from victimisation to offending have been identified and analysed thematically.

 

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