Citation

Nasar JL, Fisher BS. Sociol. Soc. Res. 1992; 76(2): 48-58.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, University of Southern California)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Fear of crime is a critical problem on university campuses. This paper describes cues in the built environment that may affect fear of crime. It develops and tests a theory about the relationship between these cues and fear, and consequent reactions. In our analysis of responses to open-ended questions, we found that fear was heightened by several site-specific cues: poor prospect for the passerby due to inadequate lighting, blocked escape for the passerby, and concealment for the offender. Respondents also reported avoidance, protective, and collective actions in response to their site-specific fears. The results suggest that reductions in fear (and actual crime) on campus may be achieved through the design of microlevel physical features.

Language: en