The Role of ‘Weak Social Bonds’ In Perpetuating Fear of Crime: An Investigation of The Aged In Lucknow

Abstract

Fear of crime is a matter of serious concern among the elderly. Yet it remains one of the least researched areas in Indian gerontology. This chapter looks at the phenomenon of fear of crime in the aged through primary data collected by mixed methods approach from 220 respondents in the district of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. Themajor contributing factors of fear of crime in the aged are prior victimisation, incivility and vulnerability. The findings of the study have also been analysed through the lenses of ‘social bond theory’ which focuses on how the breakdown of traditional social structures and weakening social bonds have exacerbated the phenomenon of fear of crime in the aged. To address this issue of fear of crime among the elderly, social initiatives, for instance, age friendly communities, neighbourhood watch programmes, helpline services in every district and Elderly Policy Councils have been recommended. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021.