Fear Of Crime: Criminology Sample Paper Outline

Outline for Master’s Assignment: “Criminology (Fear of Crime)”

Introduction

1. Establish the context of fear of crime as a research topic.
2. Present the importance of understanding gender disparities in fear of crime.
3. Provide an overview of the structure of the paper.

Main Body

1. Theories
   • Explore various criminological theories related to fear of crime.
   • Analyze how these theories explain the gender differences in fear of crime.
2. Research
   • Review empirical studies and findings on fear of crime, focusing on gender-related aspects.
   • Examine the methodologies employed in fear of crime research.
3. Criticisms
   • Discuss the major criticisms and limitations of fear of crime research.
   • Evaluate the implications of these criticisms for our understanding of fear of crime.

Conclusion

1. Summarize the key points discussed in the main body.
2. Reiterate the significance of gender disparities in fear of crime.
3. Offer insights into potential areas for future research in criminology and fear of crime.

Introduction

• Defining Fear of Crime: The concept of “fear of crime” is expounded by Garofalo (1981) as an emotional response arising from a pervasive sense of peril and anxiety in relation to contemplations concerning criminal activities.
• Behavioral Impact of Fear of Crime: This intense fear significantly influences individuals, compelling them to modify their behaviors in substantive ways. It often leads to substantial alterations in their customary lifestyles and fosters the avoidance of specific locales believed to be susceptible to criminal incidents.
• The Gender Focus: Within the broad spectrum of factors contributing to the fear of crime, the primary focus of this essay pertains to the dimension of ‘gender.’ Specifically, we will explore why women tend to experience a heightened sense of fear of crime compared to men.
• Exploring the Fear of Crime Paradox: Our investigation will draw upon the enigmatic ‘fear of crime paradox to elucidate this intriguing phenomenon.’ This paradox underscores the notable observation that more women live with an elevated fear of crime relative to men.
• Utilizing Crime Statistics: This inquiry will be substantiated by an in-depth analysis of pertinent crime statistics, providing empirical evidence that, despite the heightened fear levels experienced by women, a greater number of men fall victim to criminal offenses—an intriguing revelation that warrants closer scrutiny.
• Acknowledging Exceptions: Nevertheless, it is imperative to acknowledge exceptions within this overarching pattern. Conspicuously, women are more frequently victimized in certain categories of crimes, particularly those classified as sexual offenses, such as sexual assault and rape.
• Critiquing Fear of Crime Research: Furthermore, this study will embark on a comprehensive examination of the primary criticisms that surround research on fear of crime. It will illuminate their implications and repercussions for understanding this intricate phenomenon.

Main Body

• The Gender-Based Fear of Crime Paradox: The ‘fear of crime gender paradox’ or ‘fear victimization paradox’ is rooted in the perception of vulnerability to becoming a victim of crime. This paradox underscores that individuals may harbor a heightened sense of fear of crime, even during periods when crime rates are at their lowest, and conversely, they may feel less fear during times of heightened crime rates.
• Dissecting the Cognitive Dimension of Fear of Crime: Fear of crime possesses a distinct ‘cognitive dimension’ that diverges from actual experiences. For instance, a significant portion of the population may live in fear of crime even during periods when the recorded crime rate is at its nadir, and conversely, fear may subside when crime rates are elevated.
• The British Crime Survey’s Alarming Discovery: The British Crime Survey conducted a pivotal study that revealed an astonishing upswing in the fear of crime, peaking at an increase of up to 53 percent among the public, precisely at a time when the Home Office reported a substantial decline in the official crime rate.
• Empirical Support from Box et al. (1988): The work of Box et al. (1988) provides empirical substantiation for the gender-based fear of crime paradox. Their research unequivocally demonstrates that women tend to live with a more pronounced fear of crime than men.
• Consistency in Findings: Lawton and Clark’s research in 2015 reaffirms the enduring nature of this issue, with various researchers consistently yielding similar findings—that more women experience a heightened fear of crime compared to men.
• Gender as a Dominant Factor: Among the numerous factors contributing to fear of crime, gender has emerged as the paramount predictor of fear within society.
• Discrepancy in Victimization Rates: Research findings indicate that women are statistically less likely to fall victim to crime than men, as highlighted by Hale (1996). Nevertheless, paradoxically, women continue to live with greater fear of crime than men, even in the face of higher victimization rates experienced by men.
• Exploring Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) Insights: Data from the American Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) further illuminate this paradoxical scenario. BJS statistics reveal that males consistently face higher rates of victimization for all types of violent crime, with the exception of sexual assault and rape.
• Suspects in Violent Crimes: Furthermore, the BJS reports that an overwhelming 73 percent of suspects arrested in connection with violent crimes in the United States are males, shedding light on the complex interplay between fear of crime, actual victimization, and gender dynamics.

Explaining the Fear of Crime Paradox: Three Explanations by Lewyn (1993)

Likelihood of Victimization by Strangers

• Women’s Persistent Fear of Stranger Attacks: A critical component of the fear of crime paradox relates to women’s consistent apprehension that strangers may launch attacks upon them while traversing the streets. This unfounded fear perpetuates a heightened state of fear of crime among women.
• Addressing the Misconception: Contrary to this prevailing assumption, empirical evidence highlights that the likelihood of women falling victim to crimes committed by strangers remains relatively low. Instead, women tend to be more frequently victimized by individuals they are familiar with, particularly intimate partners.

Physical Vulnerability

• Perceived Physical Vulnerability: Women’s perception of themselves as physically less robust and their presumed incapacity to defend themselves effectively against criminals significantly contribute to their fear of crime.
• Actual Vulnerability and Exceptions: While it is accurate that women may have legitimate concerns about physical strength compared to men, Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) data contradicts the notion that women have become more vulnerable to violent crimes than men. However, a notable exception exists—women are more vulnerable to certain specific crimes, such as rape and physical assault.
• Understanding the Exception: The unique nature of these crimes, often accompanied by severe psychological trauma, physical injuries, and even fatalities in extreme cases, can arguably explain why women’s vulnerability to these offenses elicits a pronounced fear of crime.

Greater Risk Appreciation

• Women’s Heightened Risk Perception: One explanation for the fear of crime paradox posits that women possess a greater appreciation for the risk of criminal victimization. Consequently, they tend to adopt more precautionary measures to safeguard their personal safety.
• Nonetheless, this theory neglects to account for the fact that women frequently do not undertake precautionary actions when it comes to crimes to which they are particularly susceptible, such as intimate partner violence.

Criticisms

Point One

• Challenging the Uniqueness of the Gender Fear Paradox: According to Noon (2016), the gender fear paradox is not exclusive to crime; rather, women tend to experience greater fear in response to various stressful events that evoke emotions, including seemingly unrelated fears such as ‘fear of snakes.’
• Questioning the Interpretation of Emotional Reactions: Consequently, there exists the possibility that researchers may have misinterpreted this emotional reaction as indicative of greater fear when in fact, this might not necessarily be the case. Therefore, future research should delve into the role of emotions in individuals’ responses to inquiries about fear of crime.

Point Two

• The Predominance of Self-Report Surveys: An additional concern relates to the predominant use of self-report surveys in studies investigating fear of crime, as highlighted by Noon (2016).
• The ‘Social Desirability’ Issue: This reliance on self-report surveys raises the issue of ‘social desirability,’ wherein research respondents may tend to answer questions in a manner they deem socially acceptable rather than providing factual responses, as described by Lavrakas (2008).
• Implications for Gender Differences: This has noteworthy implications, particularly in the context of gender differences. Men, who may take pride in their physical strength and societal expectations of fearlessness, could be inclined to assert to researchers that they do not harbor fear of crime, even in situations where they are, in reality, encumbered by such fears.
• Potential Discrepancy Between Responses and True Feelings: Their responses to researchers’ questions may not accurately reflect their genuine sentiments and apprehensions regarding crime.

Conclusion

• Exploring the Fear of Crime Gender Paradox: The fear of crime gender paradox has been subjected to comprehensive examination, revealing that the fear of crime has a stronger connection to cognitive dimensions than real-life encounters.
• Three Key Explanations: Three pivotal explanations for the gender disparities in fear of crime, as elucidated by Lewyn’s (1993) research, have been presented and dissected.
• Addressing Criticisms: Criticisms pertaining to research studies on gender differences in fear of crime have been thoughtfully deliberated upon, acknowledging the complexities and limitations inherent in this area of inquiry.
• Persistent Gender Disparities: A prevailing trend emerges: women consistently live with a greater fear of crime than men, a phenomenon transcending historical and cultural contexts.
• Contrasting Fear and Victimization: This heightened fear experienced by women starkly contrasts the reality of their victimization, as men are more frequently subjected to violent crimes.
• The Enigma of Fear: Nevertheless, it is crucial to recognize the paradoxical nature of this phenomenon, wherein women, despite being less likely to fall victim to certain crimes, particularly violent ones, experience heightened fear for a multitude of crimes, many of which they are scarcely victimized by.