Perceptions of Neighborhood Disorder, Collective Efficacy and Fear of Crime in Contemporary Urban China

• In Event: Disorder and Perceptions of Crime

Abstract

Using data collected from a survey of 2,245 residents in a Chinese city, this study examined the relationship between perceived disorder and fear of crime in the context of urban China, with special attention paid to the role of collective efficacy on the potential link between disorder and crime. The results revealed a salient relationship between people’s assessment of neighborhood conditions, such as perceived disorder and collective efficacy, and their cognitive and emotional fear of crime. This study also demonstrated a moderating role of perceived collective efficacy on the relationship between perceived disorder and fear of crime, further highlighting the importance of considering the neighborhood social control process to develop a theoretical understanding of perceptions of disorder and fear of crime.

Authors

• Guangzhen Wu, University of Utah

• Jianhong Liu, Macau University of Science and Technology