Avoidance, protective, and weapons behaviors: an examination of constrained behaviors and their impact on concerns about crime

• Published in: Journal of crime & justice 2014-05, Vol.37 (2), p.197-213
• Main Authors: Rader, Nicole E., Haynes, Stacy H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: constrained behaviors; Crime; Criminology; Fear & phobias; fear of crime; Self control
• ISSN: 0735-648X; 2158-9119
• DOI: 10.1080/0735648X.2012.723358

This study examined the impact of three types of constrained behaviors (i.e., avoidance, protective, and weapons behaviors) on two types of concerns about crime (i.e., concerns about crime for one's self and concerns about crime for others). Constrained behaviors have been the focal point of only a few studies, most of which have focused on one type or two types of constrained behaviors. Rather than discussing precisely how and why constrained behaviors impact fear of crime, most studies have simply controlled for constrained behaviors (see Ferraro, T. W. Franklin et al. for this discussion). The current study addressed these weaknesses by focusing on three types of constrained behaviors and by focusing more explicitly on how these behaviors affect concerns about crime (i.e., a proxy for fear of crime). This study is also unique in that it examined both personal concerns about crime and concerns about crime for others. Analyses using data from a national sample of US adults (N = 1207) found that the three types of constrained behaviors differentially affected personal concerns about crime and concerns about crime for others. The strongest differences emerged with respect to protective and weapons behaviors.