“A Silver Duck in the Dish Washing Water” or Love and Crime in the Context of Positive Victimology

Crime in the context of love has always drawn attention in public and has recently become a growing area of research. This chapter aims at providing an insight on the complex topic of love and crime research, focusing particularly on hate and love crimes, love, relationship crime in gendered and cultural contexts, and love and the desistance from crime. In this chapter it is argued that a positive criminology and positive victimology perspective in the context of love and crime can help to overcome criminal acts from the point of view of the offender, as well as that of the victim. Positive criminology and victimology perspectives can support a positive, loving and thereby healthrelated (salutogenic) view of the criminal act. Particularly positive victimology can support the victim through specific interventions to overcome trauma and re-establish self-esteem and self-assurance beyond the experienced crime. The chapter provides insights into 12-step and 16-step programmes as a potential positive psychology and positive victimology intervention tool for crime victims. It presents a case example of a female victim of criminal acts within the context of a divorce and her process of rehabilitation and de-traumatisation through the16-step programme. The case example is based on the victim’s private diary notes, talks, interviews and messages. Conclusions and recommendations are provided.