Monash University
Monash University. Source – Wikipedia Commons.
  • Monash University study found hearing about hate crime could lead to rejection
  • Second hand news could lead to overestimating crime levels in local area
  • Intentional exclusion followed from just hearing about hate crime

New research from Monash University has found that “secondary exposure to hate crime can harm community cohesion.”

Monash researchers defined hate crimes as violent, destructive or threatening behaviour where the perpetrator is motivated by prejudice towards the victim.

“In communities where ethnic minorities are targeted, the blame appears to be attributed to them by their fellow residents.”

Chloe Keel, Lead Researcher and PhD Candidate, Monash University

Lead researcher, Chloe Keel, said, “This second-hand information and the subsequent response has massive implications for community cohesion in multi-ethnic neighbourhoods,”

“Hearing about crime can lead individuals to overestimate the levels of crime in their area, and second-hand tales of crime shape how individuals process events, exacerbate conflict in communities and encourage rhetoric around immigration and crime.”

Second-hand information could come in the form of gossip, social media, or the news.

The research also found that “those who hear about incidents of hate in their suburb are more likely to expect to be rejected by immigrants in their local community on the basis of their race and/or ethnicity”.

Older survey participants were found to harbour significantly more anger when hearing about hate crimes, likewise those without university qualifications and neighbourhoods with high levels of disadvantaged individuals.

On the flip side, positive attitudes towards ethnic minorities came generally from individuals who were either overseas-born survey participants, in higher income brackets, identified as religious, were affiliated with progressive parties or were younger.

In a separate study that considered the value of creative placemaking, UNSW researchers found that an area is often perceived through its social infrastructure.

“You can’t just build a place, or just physical infrastructure … you have to activate it with the social infrastructure. There’s both a physical environment, and whether people feel welcome there.”

Dr Justine Lloyd, Macquarie University

While the Monash study was unable to determine whether residents were hostile towards migrants prior to hate crime exposure, the study did find hate crimes lead to people anticipating social rejection if they approached someone different to themself.

As they used to say many years ago, loose lips sink ships.




You May Also Like

The essential property drivers that demand attention in 2024

2024 will be a significant year for property markets, but buyers must be alert to particular factors.

Housing crisis deepens for low-income Australians

A new report has found there are virtually no affordable rental properties in Australia for people on low incomes.

Sydney in “sweet spot” for investors

Herron Todd White‘s latest Month in Review reveals unique conditions could benefit investors

Experts Corner by The Property Tribune

Ko & NPA partner to launch several co-owned luxury properties at Mermaid Beach, Gold Coast

Ko's partnership with NPA Projects provides more opportunities to co-own off-the-plan holiday residences, including exclusive Gold Coast properties

Continue reading

Top Articles

Perth property market: The definitive guide to buying a modular home

Modular homes, misunderstood as inferior, offer efficient, durable alternatives to traditional construction methods.

The 50 square metre solution getting people into their first homes and delivering an answer to ...

Small, modular homes could be a key part of the broader solution to Western Australia's current housing challenges.

The hardest time ever to buy a house in Australia: How Australian home buying got ...

We're currently in a buyer's market, but that doesn't mean Australian house prices are crashing.