Risk taking and the crime drop of the 1990s

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Date
2007
Authors
Mishra, Sandeep
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Science, 2007
Abstract
Crime rates dropped unexpectedly and dramatically in the 1990s. Chapter One describes this drop, and evaluates previous explanations for the decline. A theoretical and empirical link between crime and risk taking at the individual level is discussed, as is the methodology of a study to test whether such a link is observed at the aggregate level. Chapter Two describes the results of the study investigating the relationship of crime and risk taking at the aggregate level. Results indicate, for most measures, that a decline in non-criminal risky activities occurred in the 1990s, paralleling the decline in crime, and various cross-correlational analyses suggest rates of criminal and non-criminal risky activities tend of co-vary over time. Chapter Three describes a theoretical framework based on life history theory that can help to explain the causes of the crime and risk taking drop in the 1990s, and suggests future avenues of research.
Description
viii, 82 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm
Keywords
Risk-taking (Psychology) , Crime analysis , Dissertations, Academic
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