Micro Scale Environmental Characteristics and Fear of Crime
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21834/aje-bs.v3i7.265Keywords:
Crime, Perception of Safety, Fear, Prospect-refuge Theory, Concealment, IncivilitiesAbstract
This study investigated the relationship between crime, fear, and micro-level physical environmental features: physical incivilities, places that afford concealment (or refuge), limited prospects, and blocked escape. Low and high crime streets in Istanbul, Turkey were determined. Then 68 streets were selected via cluster random sampling and evaluated by two investigators at the site and by 127 people via photographs for perceived safety, upkeep (as an indicator of physical incivilities) the extent to which they afford wide vista (prospect) and easy escape and concealment opportunities, the density and height of trees, shrubs, and walls. Results supported the theory and the findings of previous empirical studies.
References
Ergun, N. & Yirmibesoglu, F. (2007). Distribution of Crime Rates in Different Districts in Istanbul. Turkish Studies, 8, 435-455. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14683840701489324
Maslow, A. (1943). A Theory of Human Motivation. Psychological Review, 50, 370-396. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/h0054346
Newman, O. (1972). Defensible Space. Crime Prevention through Urban Design. London: MacMillan.
Nasar, J.L. & Fisher, B. (1992). Design for Vulnerability: Cues and Reactions to Fear of Crime. Sociology and Social Research, 76, 2, 48-58.
Stoks, F. G. (1983). Assessing urban public space environments for danger of violent crime especially rape. In D. Joiner, G. Brimikombe, J. Daish, J. Gray & D. Kernohan, Eds., PAPER: Proceedings of Conference on People and Physical Environment Research, Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Public Works and Development, 331-342.
Appleton, J. (1975). The Experience of Landscape. London: John Wiley.
Nasar, J. L. & Fisher, B. (1993). “Hot Spots” of Fear of Crime: A Multiple-Method Investigation. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 13, 187-206. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-4944(05)80173-2
Nasar, J. L., Fisher, B. & Grannis, M. (1993). Proximate physical cues to fear of crime. Landscape and Urban Planning, 26, 161-178. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-2046(93)90014-5
Fisher, B. & Nasar, J. L. (1992). Fear in relation to three site features: Prospect, refuge and escape. Environment and Behavior, 24, 35-62. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916592241002
Fisher, B. & Nasar, J. L. (1995). Fear spots in relation to microlevel physical cues - exploring the overlooked. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 32, 2, 214-239. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0022427895032002005
Nasar, J. L., & Jones, K. M. (1997). Landscapes of fear and stress. Environment and Behaviour, 29(3), 291-323. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/001391659702900301
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2018 Eylem Akman Cinar, Ebru Cubukcu

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.