Exploring The Impact of Crime-Focused Media on The Female’s Fear Level and Perceived Vulnerability to Crime

Abstract

Crime-focused media content is pervasive in today’s society, having a significant impact on people’s perceptions of safety and vulnerability. This research analyzes the effects of media consumption on fear of crime and perceived vulnerability among Indian women aged 20 to 50 years. Adopting a quantitative ex post facto correlational design, data were gathered from 150 female respondents residing in major cities of India: Delhi, Noida, Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bangalore. All respondents reported consuming at least one hour of crime-related media content. Therefore, they were recruited through an online advertisement and, using Google Forms, completed a self-developed questionnaire containing demographic information and media consumption details that included standardized scales such as the Fear of Crime Scale (Ethopia & Bethelot, 2021) and the Perceived Vulnerability to Crime Scale (Truman, 2005). The scope of this research sought to determine how women’s emotional responses to crime media exposure, as well as self-assessed personal risks and coping mechanisms, change with the volume and level of exposure. Results were stratified and analyzed to provide a better understanding of age-specific patterns within the framework of the study's objectives. Results are expected to provide further explanation of media impacts on gender, space, and media consumption and their interplay on mediated fear and vulnerability. This research also seeks to provide insights for future interventions to help women maintain realistic perceptions of crime risk despite continuous media exposure, particularly within the unique social and cultural contexts of India.