NCJ Number
58203
Journal
Sociological Symposium Issue: 25 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (WINTER 1979) Pages: 23-39
Date Published
1979
Length
17 pages
Annotation
DATA FROM FOUR NATIONAL SURVEYS ARE ANALYZED TO DETERMINE WHETHER ACTUAL VICTIMIZATION (ROBBERY OR BURGLARY) OR FEAR OF VICTIMIZATION AFFECT INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR AND ATTITUDES.
Abstract
THE DATA WERE DRAWN FROM THE 1973, 74, 76, AND 77 GENERAL SOCIAL SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER (6,010 RESPONDENTS). THE BEHAVIORAL AND ATTITUDINAL VARIABLES CONSIDERED WERE HANDGUN POSSESSION, SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT, ALIENATION, DEMANDS FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. FEAR OF VICTIMIZATION HAD A SLIGHT POSITIVE EFFECT ON HANDGUN POSSESSION, A SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE EFFECT ON MEMBERSHIP IN VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS, AND SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE EFFECTS ON INDICATORS OF ALIENATION. FEAR OF VICTIMIZATION ALSO WAS ASSOCIATED WITH SUPPORT FOR GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES ON URBAN PROBLEMS AND CRIME, GUN LAWS, POLICE USE OF FORCE, HARSHER PENALTIES FOR OFFENDERS, AND CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. RECENT VICTIMIZATION EXPERIENCE HAD NO INDEPENDENT EFFECT ON POSSESSION OF HANDGUNS AND NO SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE EFFECT ON SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT. VICTIMIZATION WAS RELATED TO ALIENATION AND TO SUPPORT FOR GUN LAWS, POLICE USE OF FORCE, HARSHER PENALTIES, OR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. THE FINDINGS SHOW THAT BOTH VICTIMIZATION AND FEAR CLEARLY ARE LINKED TO ALIENATION FROM OTHER PEOPLE AND FROM PLACE OF RESIDENCE. ONLY FEAR HAD THE PREDICTED POLITICAL IMPACT (INCREASED SUPPORT FOR MORE SEVERE LEGAL OR POLICE ACTIONS TO DEAL WITH CRIME). SUPRISINGLY LITTLE EVIDENCE WAS FOUND THAT EITHER VICTIMIZATION OR FEAR CAUSES PEOPLE TO CURTAIL THEIR SOCIAL PARTICIPATION OR INTERACTION. SUPPORTING DATA, A LIST OF REFERENCES, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)