Timothy Barnum, Ph.D.

Timothy C. Barnum is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Sam Houston State University and a Research Affiliate at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law, where he previously served as a Senior Researcher. His research examines how individuals perceive and respond to crime-relevant situations, with a focus on decision-making processes underlying violence, victimization, and intervention. Integrating criminological theory—particularly rational choice perspectives—with insights from psychology, his work investigates how situational cues, social context, and individual characteristics shape perceptions of risk, threat, and opportunity. At the Institute, Dr. Barnum contributes to projects using experimental and immersive methodologies, including virtual reality and video-based scenarios, to study bystander decision-making and reactive guardianship, with the goal of advancing theory and informing policy related to crime prevention and public safety.