Fear Of Crime Research Articles

Measuring and Explaining Situational Fear of Crime: An Experimental Study Into the Effects of Disorder, Using Virtual Reality and Multimodal Measurement

Abstract The current study combines an experimental research design, Virtual Reality (VR) and multimodal (survey and physiological) measurements to measure and explain situational fear of crime. 159 participants completed our VR experiment in which we focused on the role of physical and social disorder in engendering situational fear of crime. Drawing on our survey measures, we find significant effects of disorder on a variety of outcome variables: situationally experienced safety, fear of theft, fear of verbal aggression, fear and physical aggression and fear of sexually transgressive behaviour. Most of our physiological measures rendered null findings. Hence, we also conclude that the results from our two data sources (survey measures vs. physiological measures) diverge in important ways.

Fear of Crime and Anti-Refugee Sentiments: Evidence from Canada

Many states have witnessed growing xenophobia and hostility towards refugees alongside the framing of refugees as a serious security or criminal threat in public discourse. Making use of an original cross-national survey of adults in Canada, this article explores the link between fear of crime and negative views of refugees. Its results reveal that even after controlling for alternative explanations, people with more fear of crime are significantly more likely to express anti-refugee sentiments. These results have implications for understanding ongoing challenges in maintaining domestic support for refugee protection and the importance of dispelling myths that refugees are sources of criminality.

‘I’ve seen people on the train, like really weird people’ hauntological reflections on the fear of crime

By exploring the hauntological dimensions of fear of crime, this article proposes that this phenomenon exists as an ontological absence that manifests through the spectacle of crime’s imaginary, shaping thoughts, emotions, and movements. In so doing, we highlight fear of crime’s alignment with Fisher’s concept of the eerie – a presence that at once indicates an absence and an object that points to nothing beyond itself. Building on this foundation, we incorporate Simmel’s rendering of the Stranger and Casey’s theorization of ‘thick’ and ‘thin’ places to argue that fear of crime is not solely a reaction to crime events, but manifests as a phenomenon that circulates independently, akin to Baudrillard’s simulacra, reacting against crime’s imaginary. Woven through phenomenological experiences of place, fear of crime emerges as a stain, eliciting a strong sensory, anticipatory and often pre-reflexive response that alerts us that not all is as it seems. Fundamentally, we aim to highlight how fear remains an object that points to an absence, a phantasmagoria and an atmospheric sense of dis-ease, that can engulf us all and press upon spaces, societies and bodies in equal measure.

PSYCHOLOGICAL METHODOLOGY OF CRIME DETECTION (ZIGMUND FREUD ON CRIME)

Sigmund Freud is recognized worldwide as the original psychoanalyst founded to form theories and concepts surrounding the existence of mental illness and its nature in relation to human behavior. Throughout his psychological and psychoanalytic studies, Freud concluded that behavior can be explained through the investigation of one's experiences and traumas by accounting for the motivation of a person's actions. Interpretation of his findings concluded that a person can adapt his/her behavior from childhood experiences to become part of the hidden state of consciousness He studied unobservable behaviors, parts of personality that are not clearly visible within one's nature and at a basic level, cannot be explained. In 1923, Freud created a psychological idea or theory that the human mind had three elements that conceptually make up the "Psyche". The Id (instincts), Ego (reality), and Superego (morality) are not tangible physical areas within the brain, but rather entities that Freud concluded make up the human personality. What Freud called the "psychic apparatus," three elements of the human personality are now established as the unconscious level that dictates biological desires and instincts. Psychoanalytic criminology is a method of studying crime and criminal behavior that is based on Freudian psychoanalysis. This theory or school of thought examines the personality and psyche (especially the unconscious) for motive in crime. Other areas of interest are fear of crime and the act of punishment. Criminal behavior is attributed to maladjustment and dysfunctional personality. According to Buhagiar, "psychoanalytic criminologists were not against the principle of solitary confinement and often favored increased punishment."

A comparison of influencing factors on disabled and non-disabled residents’ fear of crime

A comparison of influencing factors on disabled and non-disabled residents’ fear of crime

Impact of Trust in Legal Systems and Institutions, and Perceived Safety on Fear of Crime

Impact of Trust in Legal Systems and Institutions, and Perceived Safety on Fear of Crime

Perceived Safety and Fear of Crime of Visitors in a Shopping Mall in Karachi, Pakistan

Perceived Safety and Fear of Crime of Visitors in a Shopping Mall in Karachi, Pakistan

‘My trust in strangers has disappeared completely’: How hate crime, perceived risk, and the concealment of sexual orientation affect fear of crime among Swedish LGBTQ students

Previous research has established correlations between anti-LGBTQ hate crime, fear of crime, perceived victimization risk, and the concealment of sexual orientation. Aside from correlations, the relationships between these variables remain poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to explore the relationships between anti-LGBTQ hate crime, perceived risk, and the concealment of sexual orientation in relation to fear of crime. Based on previous research and theory, the authors hypothesize (1) that experiences of hate crime victimization increase fear of crime, perceived victimization risk, and the concealment of sexual orientation; (2) that high levels of perceived risk result in high fear of crime and a more prevalent concealment of orientation; and (3) that the concealment of sexual orientation results in lower fear of crime. The sample consists of LGBTQ students enrolled at a Swedish university. The study uses a mixed method approach, combining survey data ( N = 353) and interview data ( N = 10). The data are assessed using path analysis and thematic analysis. The path analysis supported the authors’ hypothesis regarding experiences of anti-LGBT hate crime, perceived risk, and fear of crime. The qualitative analysis showed that victims of hate crimes had a reduced ability to process negative emotions because they experienced other traumatic life events parallel to the victimization. Similarly, feelings of being reduced to a negative stereotype resulted in higher levels of both fear of crime and perceived risk. Finally, the path analysis rejected the hypothesis that the concealment of sexual orientation results in lower fear of crime. Rather than being an agency-driven and functional fear response, the interview data showed that while these practices reduced victimization risk, they negatively impacted the overall health of the participants through feelings of lack of authenticity and self-censorship.

Exploring individual-level predictors of punitive attitudes in Australia

ABSTRACT Western countries tend to display preferences for the harsh punishment of people with criminal justice involvement. Drawing on a representative survey of the Australian population, the present study explores punitive attitudes and what factors shape the development of these attitudes at an individual level. More specifically, the study considers the role of age, sex, level of education, geographic location, perceptions of crime, fear of crime, confidence in the criminal justice system, media consumption, crime causation, beliefs in redeemability, interpersonal trust, political ideology, racial essentialism, and minority threat in predicting the punitive attitudes of Australians. The results indicate that generally Australians are somewhat punitive and that the strongest predictors of these attitudes are: internal attribution of crime, perceptions of rising crime rates, a lack of belief in redeemability, geographic location (specifically rural areas), a lack of interpersonal trust and a lack of support for multicultural principles together, creating a more robust understanding of punitive attitudes in Australia, which is currently lacking.

Using Computational Systematic Social Observation to Identify Environmental Correlates of Fear of Crime

Using Computational Systematic Social Observation to Identify Environmental Correlates of Fear of Crime

Fear of crime, neuroticism, and perceived likelihood of crime as predictors of attitude towards expatriates

Fear of crime, neuroticism, and perceived likelihood of crime as predictors of attitude towards expatriates

Community Policing Philosophy

A sociological understanding of crime can adequately respond to criminal challenges through practical engagement with society. Community policing is a proactive strategy that uses problem-solving methods and strategic partnerships to solve problems related to public safety, including crime and social disturbance. The core of this policing system is a flexible organizational structure and decentralized power, in which the officer decides how best to preserve security and order in line with local needs. Decentralized administration at both the command and decision-making levels has been used as an approach to promote the effectiveness of community policy. Consequently, police officers could independently interact with communities, identifying problems and developing feasible solutions. However, this idea has variations, particularly in the debate on how community policy can construct a social system to create better strategies against criminal acts. It is essential to analyze the sociological perspective to understand the main objective of the community-oriented policing strategy. Mainly, a theory that focuses on reducing crime and crime fear enhances the conditions of life for law enforcement personnel and members of society. Hence, this article analyses each strategy component using pertinent and specific sociological theories and criminological concepts, highlighting the significant contribution of sociologists in shaping the community policing strategy. Therefore, based on sociological perspectives, this article argues that community policy can create an inclusive social system within social actors’ collaboration. Keywords: community-oriented, crime, neighborhood, sociological perspective, partnerships

ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF INEQUALITIES ON RESIDENTS' PERCEPTION AND CRIME INCIDENTS IN URBAN AND PERI-URBAN NEIGHBOURHOODS

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the issue of inequality to the forefront, exacerbating economic uncertainty and social injustice, which has led to widespread social disorder. This study examines the relationship between inequality and crime in urban and peri-urban neighborhoods in Penang; Moreover, an association between inequality and the incidence of crime will be investigated in two neighborhoods. Having considered the intricate relationship between social inequality and crime in previous studies, a quantitative approach was conducted to investigate how neighborhood locations impact the crime and inequality relationship. A face-to-face survey using a closed-ended questionnaire was conducted with 761 respondents, comprising 329 from Balik Pulau and 432 from Bayan Baru. The findings reveal that economic inequality significantly impacts crime rates in both Bayan Lepas and Balik Pulau, whereas social inequality only shows a negative significant effect in Bayan Lepas. Subsequently, results indicate income does not influence the fear of crime among respondents in Balik Pulau, but residents with higher income levels in Bayan Lepas exhibit a greater fear of crime. However, neighborhood locations do not distinctly affect criminal activity. These insights can help enhance crime prevention strategies, improve security, and foster balanced development in Penang.

Modeling the relationship between living in informal dwellings and fear of crime in Gauteng Province, South Africa

ABSTRACT Information from the fifth wave of the Quality-of-Life Survey conducted by the Gauteng City-Region Observatory was used in this paper to investigate the relationship between living in informal dwellings and fear of crime. This examination is based on existing theories, including victimization/vulnerability, neighborhood disorder, and diffuse anxiety theories. Given the prominence of informal dwellings in most urban areas in South Africa, including Gauteng Province, this study examines whether living in informal dwellings determines fear of crime or feelings of unsafety. Multilevel cumulative logistic models were therefore estimated to account for similarities between individuals in the same wards while at the same time modeling for differences between wards. The results indicate that an individual residing in an informal dwelling is less likely to feel safe than one who resides in a formal dwelling in Gauteng Province. By focusing on informal dwellings as the predictor of interest, the present paper attempts to extend the panoply of predictors that can be used in empirical research when testing the above-mentioned theories.

Increase of fear of crime in rural Brazil and police legitimacy

In this article, we assess individuals' fear of crime in Brazil with a focus on rural areas using ordered probit models and data from six waves of the Latino barometer survey conducted between 2008 and 2018 (N = 10.153). Results show that there has been a marked decrease in respondents' perceived safety after 2012, with those living in rural areas experiencing a more significant increase in fear of crime than those in urban areas. While violence in an area does not negatively affect individuals' fear of crime levels, lack of trust in the police and an individual's previous experience of victimisation do. The association between trust in the police and people's perceived safety, particularly accentuated in rural settings compared to urban environments, indicates the importance of institutions in providing public reassurance.

Identifying Risky Places on Campus: The Impact of LSC and Fear of Crime

Identifying Risky Places on Campus: The Impact of LSC and Fear of Crime

Crime-related perceptions and walking for recreation inside and outside one's home neighborhood

It is widely assumed crime and related concerns, including neighborhood incivilities and fear of crime, are barriers to physical activity (PA). Past studies reveal mixed evidence. Studies of impacts for crime-protective factors are less common but have similarly mixed results. This paper evaluates a comprehensive transdisciplinary conceptual framework of cross-sectional associations between crime-related perceptions and reported minutes/week of recreational walking inside and outside one's home neighborhood. Safe and Fit Environments Study (SAFE) recruited and surveyed 2302 participants from adolescents to older adults from four U.S. metropolitan areas. A zero-inflated model estimated two components of each outcome: whether the respondent walked, and minutes/week walked. Correlates of recreational walking were location-specific, differing based on walking location. Fear of crime, risk evaluation, victimization, and incivilities were not consistently associated with walking for recreation inside one's neighborhood. People with crime concerns about their own neighborhoods, however, more commonly walked for recreation outside their neighborhoods. Protective crime-related perceptions that seldom have been studied in relation to PA, such as street efficacy (i.e., the perceived ability to avoid and manage danger), were strongly associated with recreational walking in both locations, indicating the additional heuristic value of the SAFE conceptual framework.Crime-related perceptions and walking for recreation: Evaluating a conceptual model.

Fear of Crime as a Punitive Project—The Swedish Case

Fear of Crime as a Punitive Project—The Swedish Case

외국인 밀집지역의 무질서가 범죄두려움에 미치는 영향과 사회통제에 따른 조절효과

As the number of foreigners in the country increases, existing foreigner neighborhoods are spreading out. As the number of foreign residents increases, foreign crime seems to increase, but the foreign crime rate remains at a similar level. However, in areas where foreigners are concentrated, the top five violent crimes, illegal immigration, and drug-related crimes are increasing compared to those of Koreans, and it is necessary to prepare and operate security policy measures. In addition, the level of fear of crime is higher in the case of Koreans in areas with high concentration of foreigners compared to Koreans in areas with low concentration of foreigners, and it is necessary to continue research on this topic. Therefore, this study set up a research model based on disorder and social control factors, which are the main influencing factors that are related to crime fear in previous studies. This study aimed to test the moderating effects of formal social control and informal social control on the relationship between foreigners' and locals' perceptions of disorder and general crime fear in foreigner-dense areas. The results showed that the level of perceived social disorder influenced general crime fear among foreigners, and both physical disorder and social disorder influenced general crime fear among natives. Finally, the moderating effect of social control was found to be that for foreigners, formal social control moderated both social disorder and general fear of crime. Based on this, it can be seen that it is necessary to strengthen formal social control in areas where foreigners are concentrated and build a social system that allows informal social control to function properly. It is hoped that the results of this study will be used as a basis for the development of public security policies to resolve problems such as the increase in the number of foreigners in Korea and the fear of crime that may arise due to the continuous increase in the number of foreigners staying in Korea.

The Effect of Spatial Vulnerability and Fear of Crime on Residential Satisfaction in FCA: Comparison of Native and Foreign Residents

The Effect of Spatial Vulnerability and Fear of Crime on Residential Satisfaction in FCA: Comparison of Native and Foreign Residents