LAUSR

Using an experimental design within a large national survey, the current study examines the impact of the physical location, its surrounding area, and situational elements in photos of urban landscapes on public perceptions of dangerous places. Both multivariate regression and conjunctive analyses indicate that these ratings are strongly influenced by nature of the location (e.g., alleys, streets, parking garages, residential areas), the level of disorder in its surrounding area, and, especially, the presence of a firearm in these urban landscapes. The gender and race of individuals within the urban settings had no significant impact on these ratings. The results of this study are discussed in terms of their implications for future research on perceptions of dangerous places, the individual and situational cues underlying these perceptions, and understanding the contextual variability in public reactions to crime and incidents of police use of force.