Objectives

We examined whether mobile safety apps constitute a form of crime control theater that thwarts actions that have the potential to prevent crime.

Methods

Using an experimental research design with a sample of college students (N = 210), we measured the effects of a safety app (i.e., Rave Guardian) on trust in mobile technology, fear of crime victimization, self-protective behavior, and bystander intentions to help someone at risk of victimization.

Results

Findings indicate that safety app access is associated with increased self-protective behavior and bystander intentions. However, participants who actually used the app exhibited increased trust in mobile technology that slightly inhibited bystander intentions. We found no effect of app access or usage on fear of victimization.

Conclusions

Safety app usage, but not access, may function as a form of crime control theater. Until future research further explores differences between app access and usage, widespread uptake seems premature.

中文翻译：

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犯罪控制还是只是戏剧？移动安全应用程序对犯罪预防意图和行为影响的实验测试

目标

我们研究了移动安全应用程序是否构成一种犯罪​​控制剧场，阻止可能预防犯罪的行动。

方法

通过对大学生样本 ( N = 210) 进行实验研究设计，我们测量了安全应用程序（即 Rave Guardian）对移动技术信任、对犯罪受害的恐惧、自我保护行为和旁观者意图的影响帮助有受害风险的人。

结果

调查结果表明，安全应用程序访问与自我保护行为和旁观者意图的增加有关。然而，实际使用该应用程序的参与者对移动技术的信任度有所提高，这略微抑制了旁观者的意图。我们发现应用程序访问或使用对受害恐惧没有影响。

结论

安全应用程序的使用（但不是访问）可能会起到犯罪控制剧院的作用。在未来的研究进一步探讨应用程序访问和使用之间的差异之前，广泛采用似乎还为时过早。