NCJ Number
125396
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (Summer 1990) Pages: 97-108
Date Published
1990
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The three key factors of vulnerability as related to fear of crime -- exposure to risk, loss of control, and anticipation of serious consequences -- are integrated into an analytic framework which also accounts for physical, social, and situations factors of vulnerability.
Abstract
Major factors in exposure to risk are found among women, those in risky jobs, and residence in high-crime areas; for seriousness of consequences, dimensions of vulnerability emerged among women and the elderly, victims without a social support network, and victimization in deserted areas. Finally, loss of control was feared by women and physically vulnerable persons, lonely victims and those of dubious repute, and victims exposed to high risk without adequate protection. In theory, fear of crime will increase when all three variables are raised beyond critical threshold levels. Exposure to risk should be measured by assessing the respondent's assessment of future victimization. Seriousness of consequences can be measured through the respondent's rating types of offenses according to the expected consequences and their implications. Loss of control can be measured through the respondent's self-assessed physical condition. 1 table, 39 references.