Evaluating fear of crime through multimodal physiological measures

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation was to investigate correlations between subjective reports of fear of crime and physiological measures of fear. A mixed design was adopted in which individuals were exposed to a number of short video clips depicting scenes that varied with the absence and presence of light, garbage, and graffiti - micro-environmental factors known to modulate fear of crime. Measures of power spectral density of the theta (4-8Hz) / beta (14- 25Hz) ratio were acquired through EEG, and measures of change in nasal temperature were acquired through thermography. Subjective reports of valence and intensity of emotions associated with each video clip stimulus were also taken. Additionally, measures of trait anxiety and trait depression were recorded through subscales of the state trait personality inventory (Form Y) (Spielberger, 1995). Perceived risk of victimization was also measured through a modified scale adopted from LeGrange and Ferraro (1989). The absence of light was found to elicit fear of crime as measured by an increase in subjective reports of fear of crime, and an increase in fear related arousal as indicated by a lower theta/beta ratio. Both the presence of graffiti and garbage did not elicit fear such that no differences in subjective reports of fear of crime, the theta/beta ratio, and nasal temperature were recorded. Overall, changes in nasal temperature yielded inconclusive results. No gender differences were found, however, females were more likely to record higher scores of perceived risk of victimisation. Neither trait anxiety, trait depression, nor perceived risk of victimisation were found to correlate with frequencies of subjective reports of fear of crime. In this study the absence of light had a significant impact on fear of crime, whereas the presence of garbage and graffiti did not. Furthermore, the use of EEG has demonstrated the potential of considering a decrease in the theta/beta ratio, measured by EEG, as a salient and reliable marker of fear.