Behind closed doors: The role of risky lifestyles and victimization experiences on fear of future victimization among South Korean inmates

Abstract

Criminologists have long considered the extent to which victimization experiences influences fear of future victimization. As a result, some scholars have proposed risky lifestyles theory as a theoretical framework linking individuals’ lifestyles and experiences to their fear of victimization. This study contributes to and extends this line of research by exploring whether risky lifestyles and prior victimization influence fear of future victimization among a large sample of incarcerated felons in South Korea. Results show that while risky lifestyles heighten fear of sexual assault and fear of property theft among inmates, risky lifestyles are not predictive of fear of violent assault. This finding expands the scope of risky lifestyles theory and provides an understanding of why fear of victimization occurs within the prison context.