Psychological Fear of Crime - Essay Example

Fear of Crime Fear of Crime Fear of crime can be described as apprehension of becoming a victim of criminal activities, as opposed to the actual reality/probability of ending up as one. This condition has mostly been associated with western societies where it is found and can occur as a result of a number of factors (Farrall, Jackson & Gray, 2011). This condition may end affecting the activities of an individual and the way they behave as many of their decisions are affected by this irrational fear limiting them from enjoying their life to the fullest (Jackson, 2011) The Fear of crime is a psychological issue and therefore its treatment cannot be as simple as straight forward medication to get rid of the sensation unfortunately and may involve several treatment approaches depending on the source of the fear. Though medication may still be described to such individuals to calm their nerves it will not wholly get rid of the problem and will only help them relax for a little while. These treatments may be determined by professionals who deal with the functions of the mind and relating factors (Furedi, 2006). Actual Vs Perceived Levels of Crime To properly understand the concept of Fear of crime and how it operates in an individual’s mindset, it is essential for one to determine the differences between actual and perceived levels of crime (Brunton-Smith & Sturgis, 2011). Actual levels of crime refer to reality with regard to the crime rate that is present in a region and is determined by comprehensive studies that have been undertaken by the relevant authorities such as the law enforcement agencies and other related branches. These agencies study the number of crimes that have taken place over a particular period to establish the level of crime that is taking place in the area at the moment (Stafford, Chandola & Marmot, 2007). Using this information, they are able to determine various factors such as whether the crime rate has been on the increase or vice versa by comparing the results of their studies to previous ones. Perceived levels of crime on the other hand refer to the crime rate that an individual believes exists in the region. As shown by the name, these levels are only perceptions of the individual and are not necessarily true. As a matter of fact, these perceptions are usually way off the base of the true value and are exaggerated by the individual’s own fear of becoming a victim (Jackson & Stafford, 2009). The perceived levels of crime are usually supported by an individual with a reliance on information they have gathered from various media and what they have seen for themselves. In most cases there is usually a big gap between actual and perceived levels of crime with the latter being exaggerated by the minds of those suffering from Fear of crime (Jackson, 2006). Theories of Fear of Crime There are a number of theories that can be used to explain the origin of fear of crime in an individual and why a person would suffer from it. These theories attempt to explain the outlook of an individual from a psychological perspective to determine the origin of their fear of becoming victims of crimes even when it unlikely to happen. Some of these theories include: Psychology of risk perception – This can be described as representations of existing risk involving crime that circulates in an individual’s psychology put there by a number of communication media that he is tuned to. Simply put, this refers to how high a chance a person thinks they have of becoming the victim of a crime (Farrall, Jackson & Gray, 2008). Their perceived chances of that happening in this case refers to the risk perception and the higher that is the more likely they are to suffer from Fear of crime. The outlook on their chances are ingrained into them via various means of communication which include face to face interactions where a neighbor may have fallen prey to such an incident and tells them about it as well as mass media, which include the news reports on TV and radio stations (Wyant, 2008). An individual may interact with a close friend who may have been the victim of a crime and think that if it happened to them then it is quite possible that it could happen to them to or numerous reports of various crimes that have been committed in and around areas they are familiar with on news channels may lead them to the conclusion that the area is just not safe anymore (Stafford, Chandola & Marmot, 2007). Such experiences will serve to enhance one’s fear with regard to their safety, which may result in them suffering from Fear of crime. As a result, the individual begins to see potential risks in most of the places that they go as they are no longer with their surroundings. For example, one may no longer be able to walk down an empty alleyway on their own even in broad daylight for fear that there is a potential that they may be ambushed along the way. The individual begins to see dangers everywhere, even in places where they do not exist (Stafford, Chandola & Marmot, 2007). Public Perceptions – The public view on a subject is a very important matter when it comes to formulating an individual’s own opinion. More often than not, an individual’s opinion on a topic will be affected by the majority perception that has been formulated by the public meaning they will more likely than not agree with views that have already been accepted. This can affect an individual’s fear of crime with regard to the way they look at the neighborhood that they live in (Wyant, 2008). If the area is perceived to be safe by a majority of the public then they will be more likely to feel safe as a result, but if the public views the region as a dangerous region that is prone to crime then the individual will most likely adapt the same mentality as well (Farrall, Jackson & Gray, 2007). A good example of this is the view that most people have of places such as New York, which has grown a reputation as a dangerous area with a high crime rate. In truth not every place in New York is dangerous and one is able to walk freely without any fear of being robbed, but due to the mentality that has been developed, many people who visit the city are more vigilant than usual to prevent anything from happening even when it is not necessary (Jackson & Gray, 2010). This occurs as a result of the reputation that the city has achieved via the public and thus despite the reality of matters, an individual may not be able to feel safe in such areas (Jackson & Stafford, 2009). The public opinion on regions with regard to safety play a large role in forming the Fear of crime that one may experience that may at first start as a form of simple uneasiness, which grows as they observe that those around them have the same wary attitude as themselves leading them to think that were right to be untrusting yet their neighbor is thinking the same thing for the same reasons (Farrall, Jackson & Gray, 2007). Anxiety – Anxiety can serve as an individual’s own worst enemy as it makes everything seem worse than it really is. Fear of crime can originate from anxiety over a number of things such as the crime express that may be taking place in a particular area at the moment which with little exaggeration can lead one to believe that a crime wave is sweeping through the region (Jackson & Gray, 2010). Anxiety over the direction that is being taken by social change may also lead to the increase of an individual’s fear of crime as factors such as the introduction of technology has reduced the amount of human contact previously experienced by people living in an area, for example, between neighbors. This may leave one feeling a little bit alone which may get them thinking about what they would do should they ever be attacked in their household (Jackson & Stafford, 2009). Cultural influences can also be said to have played a large role in the origin of Fear of crime in individuals as the modern times have led to people becoming increasingly sensitive with regard to matters such as safety and insecurity. This is due to the fact that criminal activities are no longer just handled in the traditional manner and criminals are now able to get access to modern weapons and other equipment that is able to bypass the traditional safety nets that had been set up to prevent such things from happening (Farrall, Jackson & Gray, 2007). The development or upgrade of these new type of criminals have left people more sensitive to the fact that they are no longer safe by simply locking their doors at night or installing window grills. Security alarms have also become almost obsolete for the more advanced criminals as they have discovered ways in which they are able to bypass these measures with relative ease (Jackson & Stafford, 2009). Though Fear of crime is a condition that an individual can be said to be suffering from, it can also have its own advantages as well. For instance, those who experience fear of crime are extra cautious when dealing with issues such as safety and security which is not a bad thing in the world that we are living in today (Jackson, 2006). Added safety measures may be a good idea especially in certain situations such as when one is alone and unsure of the relative security of the place they are in. Walking into a lonely dark alleyway may not be the best thing to do if it is in the middle of the night (Stafford, Chandola & Marmot, 2007). Fear of crime has also led to other consequences as well however that has served more as inconveniences rather than assistance for individuals such as the change in the behavior of an individual as a result. For example, one may stop going to certain places or using certain routes with the belief that these areas are no longer safe and thus they run the risk of becoming a victim of a crime should they do so (Farrall, Jackson & Gray, 2007). This may lead to inconveniences such as lateness should that particular route be the shortest and most practical way to work (Jackson & Gray, 2010). In conclusion, it is essential for an individual to be careful in terms of safety and security to ascertain that they do not fall victim to crimes, but one should also ensure that the fear of crime does not control their everyday activities or hinder them from enjoying their life. One should take the necessary precautions that are sensible for a particular situation, but not strive go miles beyond that. This way one is able to remain safe but not affect their life in a negative manner as a result being able to have their proverbial cake and eat it too. References Brunton-Smith, I & Sturgis, P., 2011, Do Neighborhoods Generate Fear Of Crime? An Empirical Test Using the British Crime Survey, Criminology 49(2). Farrall, S., Jackson, J & Gray, E., 2007, Theorizing the Fear of Crime: The Cultural And Social Significance of Feelings of Insecurity, The social Science Research, http://papers.ssrn.com Furedi, F., 2006, The politics of fear: Beyond left and right. London Continuum Press Gray, E., Jackson, J. & Farrall, S., 2008, Reassessing the Fear of Crime, European Journal of Criminology 5(3). Gray, E., Jackson, J & Farrall, S., 2011, Feelings and Functions in the fear of crime: Applying a new approach to victimization insecurity, British Journal of Criminology 51(1). Jackson, J & Stafford, M., 2009, Public Health and Fear of Crime: A Prospective Cohort Study, British Journal of Criminology 49(6). Jackson, J & Gray, E., 2010, Functional Fear and Public Insecurities about Crime, British Journal of Criminology 50(1). Jackson, J., 2006, Introducing Fear of Crime to Risk Research, Risk Analysis 26(1) Jackson, J., 2011, Revisiting Risk Sensitivity in the Fear of Crime, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency 48(4). Jackson, J., 2009, A Psychological Perspective on Vulnerability in the Fear of Crime, Psychology, Crime and Law 15(4) Stafford, M., Chandola, T. & Marmot, M., 2007, Association between Fear of Crime And Mental Health And Physical Functioning, American Journal of Public Health 97. Sacco, V., 2005, When Crime Waves, Sage Publications/Pine Forge Press, Thousand , CA. Sutton, R. M & Farrall, S. D., 2005, Gender, Socially Desirable Responding And The Fear Of Crime: Are Women Really More Anxious About Crime? British Journal 45. Wyant, B. R., 2008, Multilevel Impacts of Perceived Incivilities and Perceptions of Crime Risk On Fear of Crime, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency 45(1). Vanderveen, G., 2006, Interpreting Fear, Crime, Risk and Unsafety, BJU legal Publishers, Meppel. 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