Antecedent Behaviors of Male Youth Victimization: An Exploratory Study

The antecedent behavior patterns of violently victimized male youths were assessed using a variety of instruments, including the Risk-Taking Survey, Aggression Questionnaire, Weekly Activity Record, and Delinquency Index. Sixty-six percent of the participants reported engaging in risky, delinquent/criminal, and/or aggressive (RDA) behavior prior to victimization. Victims aged 20?24 differed significantly from those aged 15?19 in that they reported more RDA behaviors prior to the event, and more frequent risky, delinquent, and aggressive behaviors in general. They also spent more hours engaged in negative activities than the younger group. The findings are congruent with the lifestyle-routine activities and risky behavior theories of violent victimization.