Broken Window Theory And Victimology
Running head: BROKEN WINDOWS AND VICTIMOOGY
Broken Windows and Victimology
Regina Murphy
PBS 431-Victimology
Colorado State University – Global Campus
Dr. Nicola Davis Bivens
July 24, 2014
BROKEN WINDOWS AND VICTIMOLOGY
2
Broken Windows and Victimology
When I think of crime and victimology I wonder, are you more likely to be a victim of crime if you are in a certain neighborhood? Are people more likely to commit crimes if they think that no one cares? If there are no consequences for small crimes and disturbances will that eventually lead to bigger crimes? We are all familiar with an area of town that you drive through with the windows up and the doors looked. The neighborhood where you do not want to get out of the …show more content…
While the opposing people do recognize there is a
BROKEN WINDOWS AND VICTIMOLOGY
4
correlation between the areas that have had increased policing and more upkeep and the reduction in crime, they are quick to point out that correlation does not indicate causation
(Miller, 2001). The main weakness in the broken window theory is that it is very difficult to prove the theory. I think that the opposing side of the broken window theory is not very strong.
Much of the criticism takes the theory too literally expecting that just fixing the windows and graffiti will stop murder. However, the theory is more about how once an area starts to deteriorate with petty crimes it can quickly turn into an area where more serious crimes are committed. Once law abiding citizens’ start feeling unsafe in an area they leave the area and while the area is becoming less populated by law abiding citizens it will gradually become more populated by criminals. Anyone can be a victim of crime however, there are things that people can sometimes do that can increase the chances that they will be a victim of a crime. For instance if you have a car with a broken window and you are unable to fix it and leave it parked in …show more content…
The studies that were done by
Zimbardo have shown that even regular law abiding citizens will commit crimes when put in the right situations including vandalizing a car that was left abandoned. The broken window theory may not be easily proven but it does play an important part in victimology theories.
BROKEN WINDOWS AND VICTIMOLOGY
References
Adams, J. (2006). The "Broken Windows" Theory. Supply House Times, 26-27.
Kelling, G. L., & Wilson, J. Q. (1982, 3 1). Broken Windows. Retrieved from The Atlantic.com: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1982/03/broken-windows/304465/2/ Miller, D. (2001). Poking holes in the theory of 'broken windows '. The Cronicle of Higher
Education , 14-16.
Nubani, L. N. (2006). Targets for crime: Measuring the spatial and visual attributes of crime locations using space syntax. University of Michigan). ProQuest Dissertations and
Theses, 175.
Rubinstein, N. (2013). Philip Zimbardo. Retrieved from Good Therapy. org: http://www.goodtherapy.org/famous-psychologists/philip-zimbardo.html US Fed News Service, Including US State News. (2011). STUDENT PUTS 'BROKEN
WINDOWS THEORY ' TO TEST.
Broken Windows and Victimology
Regina Murphy
PBS 431-Victimology
Colorado State University – Global Campus
Dr. Nicola Davis Bivens
July 24, 2014
BROKEN WINDOWS AND VICTIMOLOGY
2
Broken Windows and Victimology
When I think of crime and victimology I wonder, are you more likely to be a victim of crime if you are in a certain neighborhood? Are people more likely to commit crimes if they think that no one cares? If there are no consequences for small crimes and disturbances will that eventually lead to bigger crimes? We are all familiar with an area of town that you drive through with the windows up and the doors looked. The neighborhood where you do not want to get out of the …show more content…
While the opposing people do recognize there is a
BROKEN WINDOWS AND VICTIMOLOGY
4
correlation between the areas that have had increased policing and more upkeep and the reduction in crime, they are quick to point out that correlation does not indicate causation
(Miller, 2001). The main weakness in the broken window theory is that it is very difficult to prove the theory. I think that the opposing side of the broken window theory is not very strong.
Much of the criticism takes the theory too literally expecting that just fixing the windows and graffiti will stop murder. However, the theory is more about how once an area starts to deteriorate with petty crimes it can quickly turn into an area where more serious crimes are committed. Once law abiding citizens’ start feeling unsafe in an area they leave the area and while the area is becoming less populated by law abiding citizens it will gradually become more populated by criminals. Anyone can be a victim of crime however, there are things that people can sometimes do that can increase the chances that they will be a victim of a crime. For instance if you have a car with a broken window and you are unable to fix it and leave it parked in …show more content…
The studies that were done by
Zimbardo have shown that even regular law abiding citizens will commit crimes when put in the right situations including vandalizing a car that was left abandoned. The broken window theory may not be easily proven but it does play an important part in victimology theories.
BROKEN WINDOWS AND VICTIMOLOGY
References
Adams, J. (2006). The "Broken Windows" Theory. Supply House Times, 26-27.
Kelling, G. L., & Wilson, J. Q. (1982, 3 1). Broken Windows. Retrieved from The Atlantic.com: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1982/03/broken-windows/304465/2/ Miller, D. (2001). Poking holes in the theory of 'broken windows '. The Cronicle of Higher
Education , 14-16.
Nubani, L. N. (2006). Targets for crime: Measuring the spatial and visual attributes of crime locations using space syntax. University of Michigan). ProQuest Dissertations and
Theses, 175.
Rubinstein, N. (2013). Philip Zimbardo. Retrieved from Good Therapy. org: http://www.goodtherapy.org/famous-psychologists/philip-zimbardo.html US Fed News Service, Including US State News. (2011). STUDENT PUTS 'BROKEN
WINDOWS THEORY ' TO TEST.