RT Article
T1 Dysfunctional Fear? Explaining (Mis)alignment among the Emotive and Cognitive Dimensions of Reactions to Victimization Threat
JF Victims & offenders
VO 20
IS 5/6
SP 1031
OP 1058
A1 Schreck, Christopher J.
A1 Wilcox, Pamela 1968-
A1 Frazier, Joanna D.
A2 Wilcox, Pamela 1968-
A2 Frazier, Joanna D.
LA English
YR 2025
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1932757139
AB Victimization threat appraisals contain both cognitive and emotive components. Ideally, for precautionary choices, both components support one another; however, an imbalance has been a persistent concern in the fear of victimization literature, but there is little theory to account for why. We explore a theory that might account for (1) the sources of variation in the extent of threat reactions and (2) imbalances between cognitive perceptions of risk and emotional worry. Our method employs an item response theory (IRT) approach to measurement in a multilevel regression framework using a national sample of 1,500 adults from the United States. Results show significant evidence of variation in the balance of cognition and emotion in threat reactions, and these imbalances are predictable.
K1 victimization threat
K1 perceived risk of crime
K1 choice theory
K1 Fear of crime
DO 10.1080/15564886.2025.2485133