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Citation |
Shaw KT, Gifford R. J. Environ. Psychol. 1994; 14(3): 177-194. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 1994, Academic Press) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
unavailable |
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Abstract |
This study investigates the relation between defensible space features and residents' perceptions of burglary risk. A modified Brunswik lens model is used to compare the results with those in Macdonald and Gifford's (1989) study of burglars' perceptions. Photographs of single-family dwellings were assessed on 55 individual defensible space cues and six cue categories. Fifty community residents reliably rated the photographs on perceived vulnerability to burglary. Residents rated houses with greater road and occupant's surveillability as less vulnerable to burglary and houses with more actual barriers as more vulnerable. Symbolic barriers, traces of occupancy, and house value were not correlated with residents' vulnerability ratings. Overall, residents' and burglars' perceptions of vulnerability were correlated by 0ยท68. Implications for defensible space theory are discussed. |