Jackson, Jonathan and Gray, Emily (2010) Functional fear and public insecurities about crime. British Journal of Criminology, 50 (1). pp. 1-22. ISSN 0007-0955
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Abstract
Fear of crime is widely seen as an unqualified social ill, yet might some level of emotional response comprise a natural defence against crime? Our methodology differentiates between a dysfunctional worry that erodes quality of life and a functional worry that motivates vigilance and routine precaution. A London-based survey shows that one-quarter of those individuals who said they were worried about crime also viewed their worry as something akin to a problem-solving activity: they took precautions; these precautions that made them feel safer; and neither the precautions nor the worries reduced the quality of their lives. Fear of crime can therefore be helpful as well as harmful: some people are both able and willing to convert their concerns into constructive action.
| Item Type: | Article |
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| Official URL: | http://bjc.oxfordjournals.org/ |
| Additional Information: | © 2009 The Authors |
| Library of Congress subject classification: | H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology |
| Sets: | Research centres and groups > Mannheim Centre for Criminology Departments > Methodology |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Oct 2009 11:00 |
| URL: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/25537/ |
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