Abstract
The degree to which a crime is feared is dependent not only on the perceived risk of that crime, but also on individuals' sensitivity to risk. We show that sensitivity to risk varies systematically across offenses in proportion to their perceived seriousness. Based on these findings, some general principles about fear are stated, and the relation between this work and some of our earlier work on fear is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Conklin, J. E. (1971). Dimensions of community response to the crime problem.Soc. Problems 18: 373–385.
Dillman, D. A. (1978).Mail and Telephone Surveys: The Total Design Method, Wiley, New York.
DuBow, F., McCabe, E., and Kaplan, G. (1979).Reactions to Crime: A Critical Review of the Literature, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
Fischer, C. S. (1981). The public and private worlds of city life.Am. Sociol. Rev. 46: 306–316.
Fischoff, B., Lichtenstein, S., Slovic, P., Derby, S., and Keeny, R. (1981).Acceptable Risk, Cambridge University Press, New York.
Hindelang, M. J., Gottfedson, M. R., and Garofalo, J. (1978).Victims of Personal Crime: An Empirical Foundation for a Theory of Personal Victimization, Ballinger, Cambridge, Mass.
Peterson, W. L. (1974).Principles of Economics: Micro, Richard D. Irwin, Homewood, Ill.
Short, J. F. (1984). Toward the social transformation of risk analysis.Am. Sociol. Rev. 49: 711–725.
Warr, M. (1980). The accuracy of public beliefs about crime.Soc. Forces 59: 465–470.
Warr, M. (1984). Fear of victimization: Why are women and the elderly more afraid?Soc. Sci. Q. 65: 681–702.
Warr, M. (1985). Fear of rape among urban women.Soc. Problems 32: 238–250.
Warr, M., and Stafford, M. C. (1983). Fear of victimization: A look at the proximate causes.Soc. Forces 61: 1033–1043.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Warr, M. Fear of victimization and sensitivity to risk. J Quant Criminol 3, 29–46 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01065199
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01065199