An Analysis of Fear of Crime in the Context of Disorder and Community Concern Model: Mersin Example

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Many research findings have proved that fear of crime has a complex structure shaped by environmental factors besides individual factors. Disorder/Incivility Model and Community Control Model have been developed to reveal the impact of environmental factors on fear of crime. Both theories have been substantially influenced by the idea of the relationship between urban structures and crime suggested by Chicago School scholars. While the Disorder theory emphasizes environmental (physical and social) disorganization, Social Control Theory focuses in particular on the impact of social relations and social capital on the fear of crime. In this study, the fear of crime in Mersin on the basis of two theories has been examined. In this scope, 10 neighbourhoods of Mersin Metropolitan Municipality were classified into three main categories: the upper, middle and lower classes, according to their socioeconomic status. A total of 800 households filled the questionnaires. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the fear of crime and physical/social disorder while Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient was used to analyze the relation between social capital and the fear of crime. According to the findings, there was a significant positive correlation between fear of crime and physical and social incivilities. On the other hand, a negative correlation between fear of crime and social capital has been found.

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Disorder Model , Community Concern Model , Fear of Crime , Environmental Factors

Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi

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Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi