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Lifestyle, Rational Choice, and Adolescent Fear: A Test of a Risk-Assessment Framework

NCJ Number
228399
Journal
Criminology Volume: 47 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2009 Pages: 781-812
Author(s)
Chris Melde
Date Published
August 2009
Length
32 pages
Annotation

This study examined the perceived risk and fear of victimization among an adolescent sample using routine activities theory or a lifestyle framework.

Abstract

Results of the study found that although increased involvement in a delinquent lifestyle was associated strongly with an increase in victimization over time, no such association existed with the perceived risk of victimization. Also, as adolescents became more involved in delinquent lifestyle and were victimized at a higher rate than nondelinquent youth, their fear of victimization actually decreased at a significantly higher rate than more prosocial youth. Although delinquent youth face a relatively high risk of victimization, research has not examined how those involved in a delinquent lifestyle interpret this risk. This study examined how involvement in a delinquent lifestyle affected the perceived risk and fear of future victimization among a sample of 1,450 youth by expanding on Ferraro's (1995) risk-assessment model, which is rooted in an opportunity framework. Figures, tables, references, and appendix