This theory was put forth by Marvin Wolfgang, an American criminologist, in the year 1958. He proposed that, in certain scenarios, the victims themselves behave or initiate confrontations, such that the offender is provoked, precipitating into an attack on the victim, i.e., the victim sets into motion their own victimization. This observation was achieved as a result of Dr. Wolfgang's analysis of homicide cases in Philadelphia. His analysis revealed that, the victim-offender interactions or altercations were initiated due to aggressive actions of the would-be victim, in most cases. This led to the conclusion that, in any criminal act, the victim is not entirely blameless and innocent, and that the crime is a precipitation of the victim's actions and the offender's reaction. In other words, the victim's actions provide criminal motivation to the offender. There are two types of precipitations – active and passive. Active precipitation occurs when the victim knowingly provokes the offender by way of provocative clothing, vulgar language, provocative body language, use of threats and swear words, or by minor attacks. Passive precipitation, on the other hand, occurs when the victim possesses behavioral, character, ethnic, or personality traits that motivate or threaten the attacker. A competing interest can also be considered passive precipitation, if it motivated the offender to attack the victim. Here, the victim is not conscious or aware of the provocation he/she provides to the offender. ★ Victim is held responsible for the crime ★ Excuses the offender's behavior and actions ★ Victim's behavior is blamed for the occurrence of the criminal act ★ Leads to the assumption that the victim deserved the crime due to his/her actions Active Precipitation ➤ A woman kills her husband due to a prolonged history of regular domestic violence. ➤ In the midst of a heated argument, the victim physically lashes out at the offender, causing him to shove or hit the victim so hard that he/she falls and gravely injures himself/herself. ➤ Constant derogation and humiliation of an employee, in public, by the employer, causes the employee to lash out and physically harm the employer. ➤ A drunken man engages in eve-teasing a woman, keeps chasing her, and eventually tries to get physical with her. In desperation, the woman reaches for any sharp object she can find, and stabs the man. Passive Precipitation ➤ The horrifying practice of lynching (hate crime) that was carried out by Americans against people of African origins, due to racism. ➤ One employee is passed over for a promotion that is offered to his/her colleague (victim). This motivates him to physically harm or spread rumors about the victim. ➤ Two men competing for the love of the same woman may indulge in antagonistic acts towards each other. ➤ The act of terrorism against a select community of people.