Landscapes of fear and stress

Abstract

Fear of crime is a major urban stressor. Certain areas - hot spots of fear - evoke higher levels of fear than others. In conditions of general wariness, certain proximate cues should evoke site-specific fears. This research examined 3 proximate cues to fear: physical entrapment, and 2 aspects of concealment - hiding places and dark spots. Twenty-six college females walked a route after dark and reported their feelings into a recorder. Content analysis of the comments revealed that concealment and, to a lesser extent, entrapment evoked fear. Such knowledge can inform policy to reduce fear and stress.