Fear of Covid-19 Victimization and Non-Compliance: A Test of Deterrence, Social Control and Learning Perspectives

• In Event: Using Theory to Understand Risk for Victimization

Abstract

This research examines factors that influence citizens' motivations to comply with two critical Covid preventive measures: criminal sanctions and the other voluntary. The goal is to test the application of various competing criminological theories associated with individuals developing motivation and developing attitudes towards compliance or non-conformity and violating expectations regarding norms, rules, and laws. Drawing from these frameworks, we examine deterrence, self-control, social control, social learning theories, and the more baseline factor, the fear of victimization from infection, to assess the explanatory power on compliance with Covid prevention measures and laws. Data for the study come from 508 respondents from St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, who participated in an online survey after May 12, 2020, when the legislation went into effect with notice. Findings and implications are discussed.

Authors

• Anna Gurinskaya, Russian State Pedagogical University of Herzen

• Mahesh Nalla, Michigan State University

• Chae Jaynes, University of South Florida