Many researchers
have done a number of studies by introducing Territorial Functioning as a crime
prevention tool in reducing victimization and fear of crime in a high crime
housing area. There are three elements in territorial functioning namely
territorial behaviour, territorial markers and territorial attitudes. Most
studies that had examined territorial marking emphasized the results in
adaptable social interaction primarily by preventing unnecessary social
encounters. It is also stated that markers are placed to restrain territorial
encroachment. Three elements: territorial attitudes, territorial markers and
territorial behaviour are interwoven and responded to support and stimulate one
another. If one of the elements is high, other elements should be high as well.
The research discusses on territorial functioning in the context of
victimization and public housing in Malaysia. This research focused on
territorial functioning and its relationship with victimisation, which vary
according to the resident’s characteristics. In particular, this study, which was
quantitative in nature, was conducted in Subang Jaya housing area. The data were
collected and administered through face to face interviews with the household
in the Subang Jaya housing area. The stratified random sampling obtained from
the survey was 73% of the total 300 households with 218 samples of the Subang
Jaya housing area. The data were then examined using SPSS through descriptive
and inferential analysis. Territorial markers, territorial behaviour and territorial
attitudes were also tested using factor analysis. The main purpose of the
process is to calculate and combine territorial attitudes and marking behaviour
as to create the overall total for territorial functioning as a whole figure.
The whole figure obtained known as territorial functioning is correlated with
demographic data and victimization. Results show that Territorial behaviour is
high and reflected in the territorial displays which are chairs and tables
outside the homes. Meaning that the more displays outside homes can deter
intruders and strangers. Presence of real barriers and plantings is interpreted
as deterrent to intrusion and an indication of a stronger occupant territorial
attitude.
Cite this paper
Haron, S. H. (2015). Territorial Functioning: A Crime Prevention Mechanism in Reducing Victimization and Fear of Crime in Malaysia. Open Access Library Journal, 2, e1143. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1101143.
Brower, S.N. (1980) Territory
in Urban Settings. In: Altman, I., Rapoport, A. and Wohlwill, J., Eds., Human Behavior and Environment, Plenum, New York.
Osborn, D.R. and Tseloni, A. (1998) The Distribution of Household Property Crimes. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 14,
307-330. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1023086530548
Zelinka,
A. and Brennan, D. (2001) Safescape Creating Safer; More Livable Communities through Planning
and Design. American Planning Association, Chicago.
Taylor, R.B. (1988) Human
Territorial Functioning: An Empirical, Evolutionary Perspective on Individual
and Small Group Territorial Cognitions, Behaviours and Consequences. Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511571237
Promoting
Safe City through Environmental Design Seminar (2004) Kuliyyah of
Architecture and Environmental Design, (KAED), International Islamic University
Malaysia. Centre for Built Environment.
Haron, S.H. (2008) The
Relationship between Territorial Functioning and Victimization, Fear
of Crime, Neighbourhood Watch and Ethnic Relations: A Case Study of Subang
Jaya Housing Scheme. USM, Penang.
Patterson, A.H. (1978)
Territorial Behavior and Fear of Crime in the Elderly. Environmental Psychology and Nonverbal Behavior, 2, 131-145. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01145816
Taylor,
R.B., Gottfredson, S.D. and Brower, S. (1981) Territorial Cognitions and Social Climate in
Urban Neighborhoods. Basic and Applied
Social Psychology, 2, 289-303. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15324834basp0204_5
Abdullah, A., Marzbali, M.H., Bahauddin, A. and Maghsodi, J. (2012) The Relationship between Territorial Functioning and Victimization: A
Comparative Study of High and Low Crime Rate Estates. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 50, 899-908.