From places to people

People react in different ways to fear. The first shows the different types of behaviours that people have, to try and reduce their victimisation, while the other three show different models of behaviour.

Types of Behaviours

People will try to reduce their chances of being a victim of crime in three different ways: avoidance behaviours, protective behaviours and insurance behaviours.

Avoidance behaviours

These are restrictive, involving avoiding unsafe areas at night or certain locations altogether, or reducing social interaction and movements outside the home.

Protective behaviours

These include obtaining security systems, joining self-defence classes and participating in local community programmes such as Neighbourhood Watch schemes.

Insurance behaviours

The aim is to reduce one’s risk through the minimisation of victimisation costs, leaving the person feeling that they do not have anything of value to be victimised for, and therefore will not be victimised.

Models of Behaviour

Social Control Model

This model suggests that social control, or a lack of social control, is the source of fear more than, for example, the objective risk of victimisation. The model also covers concerns about perceived inactivity by those in authority and the increase in social disorder. Activities such as incivility, disorder and neighbourhood decline lead to actual or symbolic threats which enhance the fear of crime.

Vulnerability Model

This model proposes that personal characteristics contribute to people’s fear. Some people perceive themselves to be physically vulnerable and consequently unable to resist an attack on themselves or their property. Others see themselves as being socially vulnerable and fear being exposed to victimisation that they will not have the capacity to resist.

Victimisation Model

This is where high crime levels lead to a high number of victims, resulting in a high level of fear in anticipation of being a victim.


Research has suggested that although these models, especially the first two, can add to our understanding of the fear of crime, they are not sufficient by themselves to explain why fear of crime occurs and how it can be tackled.