ABSTRACT
The term ‘victimology’ was first coined by Frederick Wertham (1949), who called for a ‘science of victimology’. However, as regards theorising about victimology, it can be argued that Mendelsohn and von Hentig are widely recognised as the ‘founding fathers’ of the sub-discipline. Both have been profoundly influential in establishing victimology as an academic discipline, but in very different ways. Von Hentig’s work is closely linked to criminology in that its concern and focus is with the victims of crime – so victimology is analysed as a part of criminology. In contrast, Mendelsohn’s victimological theorising is very much bound up in the philosophy of human rights – and victimology is seen as, essentially, an independent discipline. As Mendelsohn himself states,
We must point out a fundamental difference between the points of view of Professor von Hentig and Professor Ellenberg on the one hand and of ourselves on the other hand. The former consider the study of the victim as a chapter of criminology, whereas we consider it as a separate science, which because of its structure and its aim should be independent.
