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Fear of Crime, Perceived Risk, and Confidence About Dangerous Situations Among University Women in the United States and Poland

Author

Listed:
  • Jakub Lickiewicz
  • Patricia Paulsen Hughes
  • Marta Makara-StudziÅ„ska

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to compare United States and Polish university women in regard to demographics, victimization experiences, sensation seeking, fear of dangerous situations, perceived likelihood of victimization, and confidence about managing dangerous situations. A total of 520 women completed the online instruments, which consisted of Perceptions of Dangerous Situations Scale (PDSS), Brief Sensation-Seeking Scale (BSSS), and a demographic questionnaire. Overall, in regard to Fear, Likelihood, and Confidence about dangerous situations, Polish women scored significantly higher in Fear and Likelihood than U. S. women. Differences in Confidence between the two groups were not statistically significant. The two groups differed in the frequency of victimizations in terms of violent crimes, rape, and abusive relationships. The groups also differed in Likelihood scores depending on prior victimization. U. S. women made less of a distinction than Polish women between their emotional (Fear) and their cognitive (Likelihood) appraisals of dangerous situations. Neither group of women scored higher in Fear if they had been previously victimized. The researchers found differences between Polish and U.S. university women in Fear and Likelihood scores, some of which may be related to cultural differences. Sensation seeking did not differ between the two groups. Regardless of country membership, women did not acknowledge rape by a known person to be as likely as rape by a stranger, nor did they acknowledge the greater likelihood of being beaten up by a known person than by a stranger. It is clear that more education is still needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Jakub Lickiewicz & Patricia Paulsen Hughes & Marta Makara-StudziÅ„ska, 2023. "Fear of Crime, Perceived Risk, and Confidence About Dangerous Situations Among University Women in the United States and Poland," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:13:y:2023:i:4:p:21582440231216177
    DOI: 10.1177/21582440231216177
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Di Tella, Rafael & Freira, Lucía & Gálvez, Ramiro H. & Schargrodsky, Ernesto & Shalom, Diego & Sigman, Mariano, 2019. "Crime and violence: Desensitization in victims to watching criminal events," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 613-625.
    2. Chris Linder & Marvette Lacy, 2020. "Blue Lights and Pepper Spray: Cisgender College Women’s Perceptions of Campus Safety and Implications of the “Stranger Danger” Myth," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 91(3), pages 433-454, April.
    3. Riccardo Valente & Mattia Vacchiano, 2021. "Determinants of the Fear of Crime in Argentina and Brazil: A Cross-Country Comparison of Non-Criminal and Environmental Factors Affecting Feelings of Insecurity," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 154(3), pages 1077-1096, April.
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