Neighborhood crime reduction interventions and perceived livability: A virtual reality study on fear of crime

McClanahan, William P., Sergiou, Carmen S., Siezenga, Aniek M., Gerstner, Dominik, Elffers, Henk, van der Schalk, Job ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7968-4721 and van Gelder, Jean-Louis 2024. Neighborhood crime reduction interventions and perceived livability: A virtual reality study on fear of crime. Cities 147 , 104823. 10.1016/j.cities.2024.104823

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Abstract

High levels of Fear of Crime (FOC) are associated with people engaging with their community less, lower use of public spaces, and a general sense of overall anxiety. In short, such fear may reduce the livability of an area. The primary goal of this research was to examine the potential consequences of environmental interventions intended to reduce crime on FOC and perceived livability of the area. Using immersive Virtual Reality (VR) technology, in two studies we examined how environmental interventions in residential neighborhoods influence FOC. In Study 1, we examined how motion-activated, dynamic street lighting and sound may decrease FOC. In Study 2, we applied an adapted ‘watching eyes’ intervention and examined how it may inadvertently increase FOC in a neighborhood. In Study 1 the intervention did not affect feelings of safety. In Study 2, the ‘watching eyes’ intervention indirectly increased FOC via feelings of being watched. In the Discussion, we highlight the importance of better understanding the boundary conditions of such environmental interventions.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Psychology
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0264-2751
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	13 February 2024
Date of Acceptance:	19 January 2024
Last Modified:	14 Feb 2024 12:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/166278

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