NCJ Number
181220
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 38 Issue: 3 Dated: Summer 1998 Pages: 473-484
Date Published
1998
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Research conducted in Amsterdam, Netherlands, tested a model that focused on the relationship between fear and victimization and that accommodated the seemingly inconsistent previous findings regarding this relationship.
Abstract
The model suggested that fear responses are cognitively mediated. In particular, subjective victimization risk (SVR) and perceived negative impact (NI) associated with a victimization are postulated as cognitive products emanating from active adaptational processes elicited by the experience. The non-emergence of enhanced fear was hypothesized to result from compensation; this notion suggested that victimization tends to elicit upward tendencies in SVR and downward tendencies in NI. The upward and downward tendencies were theoretically expected to cancel each other out; thus, the model suggested that victimization does not affect fear of crime. The data were collected between September 1992 and January 1996. Findings clearly confirmed the expectancies of the model. Findings also suggested that NI assessments may be important cues to refer victims for victim support services or actively to approach victims regarding victim support. Figures, table, and 44 references (Author abstract modified)