Gun Ownership and Perceived Threat: Exploring Influences on Bystander Decision-Making

• In Event: Decisions, Dangers, and Deterrence: New Perspectives on Offender Choice

Abstract

This study builds on previous research examining bystander intervention in a crime scenario by investigating the role of perceived weapon risk in shaping intervention decisions. We extend Barnum and colleagues’ (2024) factorial experiment on offender and victim race by adding a new manipulation: the presence or absence of a large hoodie on the offender, which may conceal a weapon. A national sample of approximately 2,000 American adults will participate in the experiment, which explores the combined effects of offender race and clothing, and victim race on bystander decisions to intervene either formally (e.g., calling the police) or informally (e.g., confronting the offender). We focus on the moderating role of gun ownership and perceptions of risk, particularly in contexts where potential violence may be perceived. Findings will contribute to understanding how situational and individual factors intersect to influence public responses to crime and implications for policy and social control.

Author

• Timothy C. Barnum, Sam Houston State University