Problems in Education about Violence: Factors Affecting the Perceived Increase in Violent Crime

Although most national and regional statistics show that violent crimes have been declining, there is a widespread misperception among the public that such crimes are increasing. The Perception and Experience of Violent Crime survey, based on research on actual rates and perceptions of crime, was administered to subjects enrolled in a college psychology course. The study attempted to determine if students ' false perceptions were the result of their personal experiences or whether they were from indirect, virtual media experiences. The data revealed misperceptions of violent crime rates in the U.S. among college students. The majority (82%) of the respondents perceived crime as out of control. Despite their general sense that crime is rampant, students do not seem to see their own environment as particularly dangerous. While widespread dissemination of accurate information about violent crime rates might improve young adults ' knowledge, it is also possible that selective attention might distort their response to such educational efforts. Consideration must be given to the fact that educational efforts might be counterproductive. (Contains 62 references.