Importance of the Broken Windows Theory

Psychological experiments related to social behaviors can be extremely useful in improving the coexistence and security levels. In this sense, the theory of broken windows is an interesting starting point.

The abandoned vehicles experiment and its subsequent application in criminology

In 1969 the psychologist Philip Zibardo of Stanford University launched a curious experiment. Thus, two identical cars were abandoned on the street: one in the troubled neighborhood New York from the Bronx and another in the city of Palo Alto in California, a place with a high quality of life. The first was destroyed after a few days, while the second remained intact.

In a next step, the experimenters broke a glass in the Palo Alto vehicle and in a very short time observed that the car it began to be gradually looted and vandalized, just as it had happened in the Bronx.

The conclusion of the experiment was striking, since a simple broken glass caused a chain reaction of vandalism in a safe area without social conflicts.

Criminology experts James Wilson and George Kelling took Zibardo's experiment as a reference to develop their theory about broken windows. According to it, abandoned, neglected or damaged areas trigger uncivil attitudes. This conclusion served as a starting point for the city of New York to launch a campaign of tolerance zero against asocial behaviors and acts of vandalism.

On the other hand, small damages were fixed in the New York subway and with this measure anticivic attitudes were significantly reduced.

drawing conclusions

When an area is abandoned and presents a desolate aspect, the human mind interprets that it is a lawless territory. Unconsciously we believe that in this place everything is allowed, since nobody takes care of its maintenance and care.

The expression "broken window" comes to be like a symbol of many other uncivil responses. In others words, where there is carelessness and lack of care, a contagion effect occurs. Somehow, we believe that if nobody takes care of something we are authorized to do what we want.

The small symptoms of degradation of the urban space or of street violence can constitute the first step of many other destructions and of a growing degradation of coexistence. For this reason, it is advisable that degraded areas be rehabilitated, since in this way greater evils are avoided.

Fotolia images. Biker3, Robert Herhold