TITLE:
Review and Discussion on the Explanation Model of Fear of Crime
AUTHORS:
Wei Zhang, Liang Zhao, Zhuang Ye
KEYWORDS:
Fear of Crime (FoC), Vulnerability Model, Disorder Model, Victim Model, Social Integration Model
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.15 No.8,
August
19,
2024
ABSTRACT: Over the course of nearly 50 years of researching and developing understanding of the fear of crime, scholars have delved into numerous precursors of this fear. Drawing from these findings, four explanatory models have emerged to elucidate the root causes of this fear. The disorder model emphasizes the role of physical and social disarray, while the victim model centers on personal experiences of victimization. The vulnerability model highlights groups that are physically, mentally, or socially vulnerable. Lastly, the “social integration” model considers collective efficacy alongside factors like race and nationality. This paper aims to review and critique these four models, fostering a deeper comprehension of them and facilitating further exploration into their applicability.