Difference between revisions of "Security culture"
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[[File:ae.png|25px|right|This is a page providing background in a specific field of expertise]] |
[[File:ae.png|25px|right|This is a page providing background in a specific field of expertise]] |
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'''Security culture''' is a cognitive concept that |
'''Security culture''' is a cognitive concept that |
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− | * |
+ | * Looks into how groups of people perceive things and how this [[Perception of (in)security|perception]] can be explained/predicted/modified; |
− | * |
+ | * Depends on culturally embedded meanings of [[risk]]/[[security]]. |
Security consciousness becomes a culture when a community/nation as a whole adopts this awareness and demonstrates that those behaviours which violate security are unacceptable. Security culture can be applied at two levels of analysis: |
Security consciousness becomes a culture when a community/nation as a whole adopts this awareness and demonstrates that those behaviours which violate security are unacceptable. Security culture can be applied at two levels of analysis: |
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− | * |
+ | *The ''citizen level'' (focusing on [[Perception of (in)security|perceptions of security/insecurity]]) and |
− | * |
+ | *The ''government level'' (focusing on security-enhancing interventions). |
For the purpose of Securipedia, aspects known as "security culture" from the technological point of view are [[safety]] aspects. |
For the purpose of Securipedia, aspects known as "security culture" from the technological point of view are [[safety]] aspects. |
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==Description and backgrounds== |
==Description and backgrounds== |
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===Cultural factors=== |
===Cultural factors=== |
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− | Behaviour has cultural roots that need to be understood. Cultural conceptions of risk, security and solutions to security problems vary according to the |
+ | Behaviour has cultural roots that need to be understood. Cultural conceptions of risk, security and solutions to security problems vary according to the organisation of political and social relations, common values or worldviews of a system/culture. |
− | Criminological research has typically identified cultural (and |
+ | Criminological research has typically identified cultural (and socialisation-related) factors in relation with crime occurrence and risk of crime (actual threat): cultural norms, political culture, ideological constructions.<ref>Rob(ert Douglas) White and Daphne Habibis, Crime and Society. Oxford et al.: Oxford University Press, 2005, pp. 67-68. </ref>. Following examples are pointed out: |
− | *Cultural norms that define masculinity and act as enablers for the practice of violence by |
+ | *Cultural norms that define masculinity and act as enablers for the practice of violence by marginalised young men, feeling themselves excluded from normal paths of enacting the gender-specific norms they have been socialised into, in order to demonstrate virility. |
− | *Cultural norms that define masculinity and |
+ | *Cultural norms that define masculinity and dehumanise people who derive from the dominant culture of normalcy (e.g. violence against homosexual males). |
*Political culture providing a breeding ground for hate crimes against people representing otherness. |
*Political culture providing a breeding ground for hate crimes against people representing otherness. |
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− | *Ideological constructions of social systems such as the family that involves a sense of right of – even violent – control |
+ | *Ideological constructions of social systems such as the family that involves a sense of right of – even violent – control, for example of men over women. |
*Cultural norms of acceptable violence such as in sport, schools and entertainment that can however trigger excesses of violence. |
*Cultural norms of acceptable violence such as in sport, schools and entertainment that can however trigger excesses of violence. |
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Among the important results from security culture analysis on the citizen level is the distinction between “personal” and social fear of crime and its interrelation<ref>Andrea Jerković/Alexander Siedschlag: Primary Interpretation of Survey Findings to Identify National Citizen Security Cultures. WWEDU Center for European Security Studies, Analytical Standpoint, no. 12 (November 2008). Retrieved from http://www.european-security.info/asp12.pdf [2012-04-03]. </ref>: |
Among the important results from security culture analysis on the citizen level is the distinction between “personal” and social fear of crime and its interrelation<ref>Andrea Jerković/Alexander Siedschlag: Primary Interpretation of Survey Findings to Identify National Citizen Security Cultures. WWEDU Center for European Security Studies, Analytical Standpoint, no. 12 (November 2008). Retrieved from http://www.european-security.info/asp12.pdf [2012-04-03]. </ref>: |
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− | * Personal fear of crime (crime perceived as an individual or an |
+ | * Personal fear of crime (crime perceived as an individual or an individualised problem). |
− | Actual insecurity particularly increases social fear of crime (perception of crime as a problem “out there”) but decreases personal fear of crime (perception of crime as an individual concern) |
+ | Actual insecurity particularly increases social fear of crime (perception of crime as a problem “out there”), but decreases personal fear of crime (perception of crime as an individual concern): |
− | * Social fear of crime (crime perceived as a problem “out there” in the society, irrespective of personal impact) |
+ | * Social fear of crime (crime perceived as a problem “out there” in the society, irrespective of personal impact). |
Social fear of crime reduces personal fear of crime: Strong knowledge and interpretative contexts present on the national level are a cultural factor that decreases citizens’ individual perception of insecurity. |
Social fear of crime reduces personal fear of crime: Strong knowledge and interpretative contexts present on the national level are a cultural factor that decreases citizens’ individual perception of insecurity. |
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==Security related aspects and benefits== |
==Security related aspects and benefits== |
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− | * Security culture impacts behaviour and perception in a positive or negative way. For example, criminological research has typically identified the following cultural (and |
+ | * Security culture impacts behaviour and perception in a positive or negative way. For example, criminological research has typically identified the following cultural (and socialisation-related) factors in relation with crime occurrence and risk of crime (actual threat) <ref>Rob(ert Douglas) White and Daphne Habibis, Crime and Society. Oxford et al.: Oxford University Press, 67-68.</ref>: |
− | # Cultural norms that define masculinity and act as enablers for the practice of violence by |
+ | # Cultural norms that define masculinity and act as enablers for the practice of violence by marginalised young men, feeling themselves excluded from normal paths of enacting the gender-specific norms they have been socialised into, in order to demonstrate virility. |
− | # Cultural norms that define masculinity and |
+ | # Cultural norms that define masculinity and dehumanise people who derive from the dominant culture of normalcy (e.g. violence against homosexual males) |
# Political culture providing a breeding ground for hate crimes against people representing otherness. |
# Political culture providing a breeding ground for hate crimes against people representing otherness. |
||
− | # Ideological constructions of social systems such as the family that involve a sense of right of – even violent – control |
+ | # Ideological constructions of social systems such as the family that involve a sense of right of – even violent – control, for example of men over women. |
# Cultural norms of acceptable violence such as in sport, schools and entertainment that can however trigger excesses of violence. |
# Cultural norms of acceptable violence such as in sport, schools and entertainment that can however trigger excesses of violence. |
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* If public/social perception of risks and security remains unconsidered in security installations and measures, these measures are often ineffective: |
* If public/social perception of risks and security remains unconsidered in security installations and measures, these measures are often ineffective: |
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# People behave according to their cultural roots and not because planners want them to do so – accordingly they react to security measures differently. |
# People behave according to their cultural roots and not because planners want them to do so – accordingly they react to security measures differently. |
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− | # |
+ | # Citizens’ conceptions of security solutions are based on their cultural roots, the cultural norms of the society and organisation forms they live in. People have certain expectations and pictures, also from new objects/places/measures. |
− | # Citizens conceptions and perceptions strongly correlate with history and what they individually recall: did the region/nation face severe security problems in history? How did the region/nation/government handle this? – If there is awareness, the need for protection is more urgent. |
+ | # Citizens' conceptions and perceptions strongly correlate with history and what they individually recall: did the region/nation face severe security problems in history? How did the region/nation/government handle this? – If there is awareness, the need for protection is more urgent. |
− | # Counter-terrorism design reflects a nations security culture in terms of terrorism security, |
+ | # Counter-terrorism design reflects a nations security culture in terms of terrorism security, that is varying across nations and is particularly pronounced in countries with higher attack histories (government level). Counter-terrorism good design is considered to include risk response and integrating protective security measures. |
==Approaches how to address it== |
==Approaches how to address it== |
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:- What would they need to feel safer? |
:- What would they need to feel safer? |
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: |
: |
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− | :- Do they |
+ | :- Do they realise the risk/security problem and the need of the measure? |
: |
: |
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:- Do they need additional information and education? |
:- Do they need additional information and education? |
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− | *Provide information on backgrounds: planning principles and standards, national security concerns and problems, ways and options to counteract, handling of new installations etc |
+ | *Provide information on backgrounds: planning principles and standards, national security concerns and problems, ways and options to counteract, handling of new installations, etc; |
* Identify and analyse the social context to which the tool/measure is applied; |
* Identify and analyse the social context to which the tool/measure is applied; |
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* Use a comprehensive concept to identify vulnerability in order to reflect the multidimensionality of threats; |
* Use a comprehensive concept to identify vulnerability in order to reflect the multidimensionality of threats; |
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Security culture typically lacks empirical substantiation. Other concepts strongly argue that differences between actual and perceived security are mainly media constructs, especially the salience media assign to crime incidents so to grasp public fear and catch attention for their product. |
Security culture typically lacks empirical substantiation. Other concepts strongly argue that differences between actual and perceived security are mainly media constructs, especially the salience media assign to crime incidents so to grasp public fear and catch attention for their product. |
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− | Referring to studies in the UK, readers of boulevard newspapers (“tabloids”) have twice the probability to exhibit specific fear of crime (violence, burglary and car crime) than readers of quality press (“broadsheets”).<ref>United Nations Human Settlements Programme, Enhancing Urban Safety and Security: Global Report on Human Settlements 2007. London: Earthscan 2007 <http://mirror.unhabitat.org/pmss/getElectronicVersion.aspx?nr=2432&alt=1>, ch. 3.</ref> In fact, readers of tabloids arguably belong to different social strata by trend than readers of higher quality press, and may be confronted with more difficult realities. Therefore, empirical results of this kind should be complemented by an analysis of the social, if not cultural context. |
+ | Referring to studies in the UK, readers of boulevard newspapers (“tabloids”) have twice the probability to exhibit specific fear of crime (violence, burglary, and car crime) than readers of quality press (“broadsheets”).<ref>United Nations Human Settlements Programme, Enhancing Urban Safety and Security: Global Report on Human Settlements 2007. London: Earthscan 2007 <http://mirror.unhabitat.org/pmss/getElectronicVersion.aspx?nr=2432&alt=1>, ch. 3.</ref> In fact, readers of tabloids arguably belong to different social strata by trend than readers of higher quality press, and may be confronted with more difficult realities. Therefore, empirical results of this kind should be complemented by an analysis of the social, if not cultural context. |
{{references}} |
{{references}} |
Revision as of 10:17, 12 June 2013
Security culture is a cognitive concept that
- Looks into how groups of people perceive things and how this perception can be explained/predicted/modified;
- Depends on culturally embedded meanings of risk/security.
Security consciousness becomes a culture when a community/nation as a whole adopts this awareness and demonstrates that those behaviours which violate security are unacceptable. Security culture can be applied at two levels of analysis:
- The citizen level (focusing on perceptions of security/insecurity) and
- The government level (focusing on security-enhancing interventions).
For the purpose of Securipedia, aspects known as "security culture" from the technological point of view are safety aspects.
Contents
Description and backgrounds
Cultural factors
Behaviour has cultural roots that need to be understood. Cultural conceptions of risk, security and solutions to security problems vary according to the organisation of political and social relations, common values or worldviews of a system/culture.
Criminological research has typically identified cultural (and socialisation-related) factors in relation with crime occurrence and risk of crime (actual threat): cultural norms, political culture, ideological constructions.[1]. Following examples are pointed out:
- Cultural norms that define masculinity and act as enablers for the practice of violence by marginalised young men, feeling themselves excluded from normal paths of enacting the gender-specific norms they have been socialised into, in order to demonstrate virility.
- Cultural norms that define masculinity and dehumanise people who derive from the dominant culture of normalcy (e.g. violence against homosexual males).
- Political culture providing a breeding ground for hate crimes against people representing otherness.
- Ideological constructions of social systems such as the family that involves a sense of right of – even violent – control, for example of men over women.
- Cultural norms of acceptable violence such as in sport, schools and entertainment that can however trigger excesses of violence.
Personal vs. social fear of crime
Among the important results from security culture analysis on the citizen level is the distinction between “personal” and social fear of crime and its interrelation[2]:
- Personal fear of crime (crime perceived as an individual or an individualised problem).
Actual insecurity particularly increases social fear of crime (perception of crime as a problem “out there”), but decreases personal fear of crime (perception of crime as an individual concern):
- Social fear of crime (crime perceived as a problem “out there” in the society, irrespective of personal impact).
Social fear of crime reduces personal fear of crime: Strong knowledge and interpretative contexts present on the national level are a cultural factor that decreases citizens’ individual perception of insecurity.
- Security culture impacts behaviour and perception in a positive or negative way. For example, criminological research has typically identified the following cultural (and socialisation-related) factors in relation with crime occurrence and risk of crime (actual threat) [3]:
- Cultural norms that define masculinity and act as enablers for the practice of violence by marginalised young men, feeling themselves excluded from normal paths of enacting the gender-specific norms they have been socialised into, in order to demonstrate virility.
- Cultural norms that define masculinity and dehumanise people who derive from the dominant culture of normalcy (e.g. violence against homosexual males)
- Political culture providing a breeding ground for hate crimes against people representing otherness.
- Ideological constructions of social systems such as the family that involve a sense of right of – even violent – control, for example of men over women.
- Cultural norms of acceptable violence such as in sport, schools and entertainment that can however trigger excesses of violence.
- If public/social perception of risks and security remains unconsidered in security installations and measures, these measures are often ineffective:
- People behave according to their cultural roots and not because planners want them to do so – accordingly they react to security measures differently.
- Citizens’ conceptions of security solutions are based on their cultural roots, the cultural norms of the society and organisation forms they live in. People have certain expectations and pictures, also from new objects/places/measures.
- Citizens' conceptions and perceptions strongly correlate with history and what they individually recall: did the region/nation face severe security problems in history? How did the region/nation/government handle this? – If there is awareness, the need for protection is more urgent.
- Counter-terrorism design reflects a nations security culture in terms of terrorism security, that is varying across nations and is particularly pronounced in countries with higher attack histories (government level). Counter-terrorism good design is considered to include risk response and integrating protective security measures.
Approaches how to address it
- Consider public perceptions and conceptions of risk and security (from studies, surveys etc.);
- Involve citizens (see: citizen participation) in the planning process to find out:
- - Would they use and accept the planned structures/objects/security installations?
- - Do the planned issues correspond to their ideas?
- - What would they need to feel safer?
- - Do they realise the risk/security problem and the need of the measure?
- - Do they need additional information and education?
- Provide information on backgrounds: planning principles and standards, national security concerns and problems, ways and options to counteract, handling of new installations, etc;
- Identify and analyse the social context to which the tool/measure is applied;
- Use a comprehensive concept to identify vulnerability in order to reflect the multidimensionality of threats;
- Identify and address future factors of vulnerability and resilience;
- Identify citizens’ self-perceptions of vulnerability and resilience;
- Identify citizens’ self-perception of their coping capabilities;
- Analyse the distribution of gaps between felt and factual security across society;
- Analyse the relevant public security cultures on both the level of government and the level of citizens.
Critics
Security culture typically lacks empirical substantiation. Other concepts strongly argue that differences between actual and perceived security are mainly media constructs, especially the salience media assign to crime incidents so to grasp public fear and catch attention for their product.
Referring to studies in the UK, readers of boulevard newspapers (“tabloids”) have twice the probability to exhibit specific fear of crime (violence, burglary, and car crime) than readers of quality press (“broadsheets”).[4] In fact, readers of tabloids arguably belong to different social strata by trend than readers of higher quality press, and may be confronted with more difficult realities. Therefore, empirical results of this kind should be complemented by an analysis of the social, if not cultural context.
Footnotes and references
- ↑ Rob(ert Douglas) White and Daphne Habibis, Crime and Society. Oxford et al.: Oxford University Press, 2005, pp. 67-68.
- ↑ Andrea Jerković/Alexander Siedschlag: Primary Interpretation of Survey Findings to Identify National Citizen Security Cultures. WWEDU Center for European Security Studies, Analytical Standpoint, no. 12 (November 2008). Retrieved from http://www.european-security.info/asp12.pdf [2012-04-03].
- ↑ Rob(ert Douglas) White and Daphne Habibis, Crime and Society. Oxford et al.: Oxford University Press, 67-68.
- ↑ United Nations Human Settlements Programme, Enhancing Urban Safety and Security: Global Report on Human Settlements 2007. London: Earthscan 2007 <http://mirror.unhabitat.org/pmss/getElectronicVersion.aspx?nr=2432&alt=1>, ch. 3.