Fear and Reactions to Crime

Abstract

Fear and reactions to crime have been identified as important factors shaping our communities. In response to local crime, people can become fearful of personal victimization and avoid potentially threatening situations. This response can have an atomizing effect on communities leading to out-migration. Two models have been offered to explain fear and reactions to crime: the victimization model and the social control model. This article examines the limitations of these models, and develops and tests a revised model of fear and reactions to crime. The model shows that avoidance reactions are primarily affected by crime-related factors such as the objective crime rate and the level of fear. Protective reactions are primarily affected by the social characteristics of the neighborhood such as neighboring, perceived social similarity, and social control. Finally, collective reactions are affected by both crime-related factors and the perceived social characteristics of a neighborhood.

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