The Effect of Environmental Factors on Neighborhood Resident's Feeling of Security (Case Study: Selected Neighborhoods in the city of Yazd)

Numerous factors influence the establishment of social order and security, one of which could be environmental or physical factors. The is importance of this factor is realized when we recognize that factors causing insecurity occur in a physical context and take note that human behavior is different in different places, and in many instances, human stimulus is essential in the occurrence of criminal behavior.This is a survey research which used a questionnaire to collect needed data. The sample consisted of 214 persons in the Safaieh and Amirabad neighborhoods that were selected through cluster sampling. Regression and Pearson tests were used for data analysis. Research findings showed that physical space, territoriality, social surveillance and social interaction influenced the feeling of security but there was no relation between crime rate and feeling of security. Also, people's perceptions of security, having access to facilities, and obstacles in the way of committing crime were related to the incidence of crime. It could be concluded that variables such as physical space, territoriality and social interactions are important factors in enhancing the feeling of security. Paying attention to indefensible spaces and creating appropriate green spaces for leisure activities that can raise territoriality and social interactions of residents which could make informal surveillance possible and can influence residents to better maintain the neighborhood, can be regarded as effective policies to promote a feeling of security.