NCJ Number
157165
Journal
Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science Volume: 539 Dated: (May 1995) Pages: 14-27
Date Published
1995
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the current literature on individuals' psychological reactions to criminal victimization.
Abstract
The article describes the nature of crime, and the extent and correlates of fear of victimization. Typical reactions to crime include avoidance behavior, protective actions, changes in routine activity patterns and lifestyle, and participation in collective crime prevention action. The author concludes that, while crime has become a basic fact of life for more urban residents in the U.S., it is not necessarily the case that greater exposure to the risk of crime leads directly to greater fear. In many cases, urban residents become desensitized to the existence of crime, so that crime does not result in a total withdrawal from and rejection of urban life. Nonetheless, some people, notably women and older people, are more likely to be overly fearful, to have a distorted perception of their likelihood of victimization, and to take the most precautions to reduce their risks. 35 notes