An exploration of the psychological factors which underpin women’s fear of crime in South Africa

Abstract

The fear of crime is widely recognised as a complex social phenomenon. Previous research has found that the fear of crime exists independently to the actual probability of becoming a victim to crime (Moller, 2005). This is due to the fact that the anxiety and perceived risk associated with fear of crime seems to remain the same or in some cases, even increase, during times when crime statistics have declined (Moller, 2005). This research study explains the reasons why this is so, by focusing on the psychological factors which underpin women’s fear of crime, namely: vulnerability and one’s perception of the social and physical environment. Data which was collected from an online, qualitative questionnaire has been interpreted in order to provide an in-depth understanding of women’s subjective fear of crime within a South African context, and this also provides an understanding of how this fear of crime leads to consequent fear-related behaviours. The findings from this research may be of value to the many women of South Africa who experience fear of crime on a daily basis, partly due to the impacts of gender-based violence, and partly as a result of other factors which have been explored and discussed.