The current study combines an experimental research design, Virtual Reality (VR) and multimodal (survey and physiological) measurements to measure and explain situational fear of crime. 159 participants completed our VR experiment in which we focused on the role of physical and social disorder in engendering situational fear of crime. Drawing on our survey measures, we find significant effects of disorder on a variety of outcome variables: situationally experienced safety, fear of theft, fear of verbal aggression, fear and physical aggression and fear of sexually transgressive behaviour. Most of our physiological measures rendered null findings. Hence, we also conclude that the results from our two data sources (survey measures vs. physiological measures) diverge in important ways.
Published: 2024-10-24
Measuring and Explaining Situational Fear of Crime: An Experimental Study Into the Effects of Disorder, Using Virtual Reality and Multimodal Measurement
Jelle Brands, Jochem Milan Jansen, Janne van Doorn, Remco Spithoven
- Item Type: journalArticle
- Publication Title: The British Journal of Criminology
- Volume:
- Pages: azae072
- Series:
- Series Title:
- Series Text:
- Journal Abbreviation: The British Journal of Criminology
- DOI: /10.1093/bjc/azae072
- ISSN: 0007-0955
- Short Title: Measuring and Explaining Situational Fear of Crime
- Library Catalog: Silverchair
