NCJ Number
220080
Journal
Sociological Spectrum Volume: 27 Issue: 5 Dated: 2007 Pages: 475-505
Date Published
2007
Length
31 pages
Annotation
This study examined the association between fear of crime, victimization experience, perceived risk, avoidance behaviors, and defensive behaviors along with other demographic and contextual variables.
Abstract
The findings suggest that the threat of victimization conceptualization model is partially supported because fear of crime is related to perceived risk, avoidance behaviors, and defensive behaviors in a reciprocal fashion. This study empirically tested an alternative view of fear of crime presented by Radar in 2004. In 2004, Radar argued that fear of crime, perceived risk, and constrained behaviors were involved in a reciprocal relationship in which all three components contributed to something called the “threat of victimization.” This empirical assessment of that work indicates that the threat of victimization is more complex than Rader considered. The associations between (1) fear of crime and perceived risk, (2) fear of crime and avoidance behaviors, and (3) fear of crime and defensive behaviors revealed reciprocal relationships, whereas the association between perceived risk and both types of constrained behaviors did not. This suggests that future research should consider fear of crime as a cause of these additional constructs and also more carefully consider the correlates as well. The study used data from over 2,000 adult respondents from a mid-southern State to examine the association between fear of crime, victimization experience, perceived risk, avoidance behaviors, and defensive behaviors. Tables, figures, references, and appendix