NCJ Number
217162
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 47 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2007 Pages: 133-153
Date Published
January 2007
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This paper examined responses from three waves of a longitudinal crime survey in Trinidad in an attempt to understand the relationship between risk of victimization and fear of victimization.
Abstract
Relating risk and fear, whether simply or in a more complex fashion, was not as productive as thought. However, the attempt showed that they are separate concerns, and that risk is not acting as a substitute for fear. Instead, risk may relate to a cognitive dimension, and fear to an affective one. The data presented does not suggest that changes in perceived personal risk would have considerable effects on personal levels of fear, nor would substantial predictions be made regarding demographic differences in risk sensitivity. Therefore, the exact nature of the risk/fear relationship remains elusive. The idea that actual (or objective) risks can be compared with perceived (or subjective) risks is both well established and, by many, vehemently defended. However, a problem emerges for there are those that suspect “too much” perceived risk. Crime surveys typically ask respondents how likely they think it is that they will become a crime victim in the future, which are interpreted as risk statements. Risk predictions are largely based on interpretations and not on recorded crime rates. This study examined the relationship between likelihood and fear of criminal victimization utilizing responses from a longitudinal crime survey conducted in Trinidad. Tables, references