DOMESTIC AND INTIMATE VIOLENCE - AN APPLICATION OF ROUTINE ACTIVITIESTHEORY

Much individual-level resenl ch in criminology is based on determinist ic models of street-crime and suite-crime. Factors that constrain indi viduals to crime or conformity are predominant. This paper explores th e advantages of a more soft determinism in explaining crime; especiall y intimate violence. Routine activities theory, which assumes freedom of action and rational choice, is used here to analyze patterns of int imate violence, especially, child sexual abuse. Marcus Felson's model of predatory crime provides a unique interpretation of intimate violen ce. Criminal incidents involve the physical convergence of three eleme nts: a motivated offender; a suitable target; and the absence of a cap able guardian. The convergence of these factors in intimate violence i s analyzed; the potential of routine activity theory in explaining dom estic abuse is assessed. Finally suggestions for crime control in inti mate violence based on routine activities theory are presented. (C) 19 97 Elsevier Science Ltd.