Criminology 1500 words Assignment

Fear of Crime BRD205: Crime through the Ages

Learning Objectives: Be able to discuss…

Social importance of ‘fear of crime’

Relationship between actual crime and fear of crime

Gender differences in fear of crime

Micro-level analysis: Crime and Disorder Model

“ This fear leads many people to give up activities they would normally undertake particularly when it may involve going out on the streets or into parks and other public places at night”.

Presidential Commission, 1967, p.94

Measuring fear of crime

• Perceived risk of victimisation

• Fear of victimisation

• Fear of impact of victimisation

Research Findings

Measure Result

Fear of Crime HFG were significantly more fearful

Perceived Crime HFG perceived significantly higher crime levels

Experience HFG were significantly more likely to have experienced crime

Perceived Vulnerability

HFG perceived themselves as being significantly more vulnerable

Gender and Fear of Crime

• Perceived greater impact

• Higher levels of vigilance & sensitivity

Micro-level Analysis: Crime & Disorder

Model

• Local level

• Perceptual differences

Cultivation Theory

• Substitution hypothesis: stronger influence in absence of personal experience

• Resonance hypothesis: stronger influence in presence of personal experience

• Affinity hypothesis: stronger influence when resembling victims

• Vulnerability hypothesis: stronger influence for those who feel vulnerable

References

Callanan, V., & Rosenberger, J.S. (2015). Media, gender, and fear of crime, Criminal Justice

Review, 40(3), 322-339.

Kim, A., & Kang, H. (2018). An analysis of fear of crime using multimodal measurement,

Biomedical Signal Processing and Control, 41, 186-197.

Snedker, K.A. (2015). Neighborhood conditions and fear of crime: A reconsideration of sex

differences, Crime & Delinquency, 61(1), 45-70.

Zhao, J.S., Lawton, B., & Longmire, D. (2015). An examination of the micro-level crime-fear of

crime link, Crime & Delinquency, 61(1), 19-44.