Home security, locks, and surveillance equipment are all countermeasures (of reality) that we take in order to feel more secure. These countermeasures can make us feel more secure. The feeling of security in strengthened by the reality of preventive measures that we take.
Security is both a feeling and a reality, and these two aspects are completely different from each other.
Reality:
The reality of security can be measured by certain parameters such as:
- The crime rate in the neighborhood
- Home security
- Locks
- Your door locking habits
Feeling:
The feeling of security is not based on probabilities and mathematical calculations. It is our psychological reaction to risk/threats of reality and our countermeasures against them. One might feel that he/she is at high risk of burglary and medium risk of murder, while another person living in the same neighborhood may feel he/she is at a low risk of burglary and murder because they have a better counteraction plan against the security risks.
Countermeasures:
Home security, locks, and surveillance equipment are all countermeasures (of reality) that we take in order to feel more secure. These countermeasures can make us feel more secure. The feeling of security is strengthened by the reality of the preventive measures that we take.
Trade-offs:
One must understand that there is no such thing as absolute security. Making your houses secure always involves some kind of trade-off.
Security of your house may cost you:
- Money, and
- time
In return, it delivers convenience, capabilities, liberties, and peace of mind.
Looking at home securities in terms of effectiveness is not the correct approach. Instead, one might ask is this a good trade-off? If investing in hi-tech, expensive security and surveillance equipment brings you peace and heartsease, it is definitely a good trade-off.
We make security trade-offs every day, these intuitive choices are central to our life. When we decide to lock our doors before sleeping and leaving the house in the morning when we deliberately avoid certain areas, when we choose our driving routes and when we decide if we would use cash or card to make a payment, we are making intuitive real choices to feel more secure.
Human Brains and our perception of security:
We make the best trade-off decision when our perception of reality is more accurate. The more our perception of reality diverges, the more we fall into the pit of making wrong decisions regarding security. Sometimes we do not correctly asses the magnitude of risks possessed by reality.
The human brain is a complex organ, evolved over the course of years and that is why countless processes are jumbled together in it. Reaction to security threats/risk is one of the most primitive reflex humans have. Our reaction is based on our perception of reality of that threat and it is never a hundred percent accurate. Even when it is correct, our bodies are not designed to deal with risks of high magnitude.
Take the example of 6.5 feet, 200 pounds’ burglar, breaking into the house of 5.7 feet, 129 pounds female in Sacramento. There is no way in hell she can fight this burglar off even when she is completely aware of the magnitude of the threat that man possesses. Not until she has some sort of external help, a baseball bat maybe or a firearm. These are extreme measures, what if the situation could be prevented all along? What if the burglar can’t even break into her house, even if he does, police or some sort of security agency is immediately notified? All these measures will help feel her secure, she doesn’t have to physically fight off any threat. Investing in good home security, alarm system and surveillance equipment installed by a skilled locksmith in Sacramento is the right way of fighting off the security risk. In addition, always make sure to choose a professional company that has some good customer reviews and known for its reliable services.
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