The myth of increased crime in Japan: A false perception of crime frequency in post-disaster situations

Abstract

People tend to perceive that crime is widespread in post-disaster situations. This common misconception, also known as the myth of increased crime, was examined based on an online convenience sample of 600 people. A 11-item questionnaire survey was designed to examine what types of criminal acts people assumed would increase in post-disaster situations, as well as whether the amount of media consumption and preferences for media coverage of crime would affect the perceived frequency of post-disaster crime. Results found that people assumed that only theft, fraud, and looting, would increase after disasters, while they did not seem to think that sex offense, assault, and murder, would increase. Also, results of regression analysis found that only age, weekly hours of Internet access, and the person’s preference for media coverage of daily crime were found to be significant predictors of the myth, although the present prediction models failed to provide a satisfactory explanation. Unexpectedly, hours of television viewing and one’s preference for media coverage of post-disaster crime were found to have no significant effects on the perceived frequency of post-disaster crime. Types of criminal acts misperceived to increase in post-disaster situations and alternative sources of the myth are discussed to some extent.