The Broken Windows Theory and the Zimbardo Experiment

This theory, associated with an experiment by Philip Zimbardo, explains why certain crimes occur.

Let's think for a moment about the image projected by a building with a broken window, which has been like this for months or even years. Probably, as we concentrate on it, we will imagine how the building in question is covered by a layer of dust, as well as the fact that it is poorly cared for. We may even imagine it to be totally abandoned.

The thought that many of us will have come to mind is "nobody cares anymore". And this thought can be dangerous: many people's behavior towards the building in question will be modified by their perception of it. This is what is proposed by the theory of broken windowswhich we are going to talk about in this article.

The broken windows theory

The broken windows theory is a well-known theory linked to criminology, which proposes mainly the existence of the emergence and contagion of criminal behavior from the perceived from the perception of the relevance or lack of relevance of the stimulus or element we are dealing with. Thus, how we perceive what surrounds us influences our behavior towards it, and can even modify our consideration of what is moral, legal and legitimate with respect to what is being done.

The image suggested by the name of the theory is a clear analogy: the existence of a broken window implies a certain abandonment of the building or vehicle in question, something that diminishes the responsibility towards what happens to it. Likewise, the damage they present makes it easier to add, at first little by little but over time in a more pronounced way, other damages: this is what happens with abandoned buildings, to which teenagers and children often throw cobblestones to break the rest of the windows. The uncivic is becoming contagious because of the consideration that what is attacked is of little importance and that no one cares about it..

The opposite would also be applicable: a good care of the elements that form part of a stimulus makes it difficult for it to be considered unappreciated and for uncivic behavior to appear by mere contagion.

This apparently simple theory, developed at the criminological level by Wilson and Kelling in 1982 on the basis of the results of an experiment by Philip Zimbardo, has profound implications: it is the perception of what surrounds us that explains our behavior towards it.. The idea that something has little value or is abandoned facilitates criminality, as well as the fact of observing that there has been evident uncivic behavior on which no action has been taken (for example, a wall with graffiti that has not been erased facilitates that others also draw on it), something to be taken into account at the institutional level when preventing some behaviors and at the same time revitalizing some areas of the cities.

And not only at the criminal level: in many other ways as well this theory can push us to watch our behavior about what and who we want (let's not forget that the broken window, although in this case it may be a real stimulus, is also usable as a metaphor).

• Related article, "What is Social Psychology?"

Zimbardo's experiment

The theory of broken windows arose from a social psychology experiment conducted by Philip Zimbardo, in 1969. To do so, he would have two cars in perfect condition of identical color, make and model in two different locations: the Bronx (a New York neighborhood with very few resources known for high crime rates, especially at that time) and Palo Alto (a wealthy Californian area with little crime). Once there, he would rip off their license plates and leave their doors open, with the purpose of observing what was happening.

Initially, the behavior observed in the two cars was different. The car parked in the Bronx was quickly stripped and the car was practically destroyed.The car parked in the Bronx was quickly ransacked and practically destroyed within a few days. By contrast, the car parked in Palo Alto remained intact for a week.

However, the experiment continued: after that time Zimbardo decided to attack the car and cause some damage, including the breaking of one of its windows, and then withdrew to observe. Thereafter, seeing clear signs of abandonment of the vehicle, the Palo Alto neighbors engaged in the same behavior toward the car as those in the Bronx: they ransacked and vandalized it.

The findings of the experiment supported the broken windows theory: the perception that something is abandoned and that its fate does not matter to anyone can trigger behaviors that may even contravene the beliefs of those who carry them out, to the commission of crimes or to negligence or ignorance of what is happening to the item. of what is happening with this element.

Likewise, we cannot fail to see that what at first glance and at first glance could lead one to think of the existence of poverty as an element that elicits criminal behavior has proven to be false: the acts committed against the Palo Alto car were the same and in this case the purchasing power of those who committed them was high. Although today this is something that is strange to very few people, at that time there was still a high level of classism in social perception that considered it improbable that people with high socioeconomic positions would commit crimes.

A theory that can be extrapolated to other realities

The broken windows theory has been associated with delinquency and criminality in the form of robbery, theft and vandalism, but we can also observe a similar effect in other realities.But we can also observe a similar effect in small day-to-day things that we do not notice. This is what happens for example in relationships, whose neglect can lead to the emergence of conflicts and breakups, the escalation of violence in a fight between two people if some control mechanism is not put in place or the fact of lying, which can lead to the need to develop increasingly complex lies and at the same time to the fact that others do not believe us.

It has also been observed that at the urban level, the presence of specific points where there is abandonment and neglect are likely to generate around them an increase in neglected areas and even in the commission of petty crime. An example of this would be the neighborhoods that gradually see their social prestige reduced, in some cases to the point of being considered marginal.

But in addition to the above it can also be associated with much more serious criminal acts (although in these cases a certain component of lack of empathy, values and responsibility is also required).

For example, today we see how the homeless tend to be systematically ignored by most people, and in some cases are even attacked and harassed. While the latter is not a common occurrence, it can be associated with the broken windows theory: this is someone who is socially unseen and disregarded, someone abandoned by society, which decreases the level of empathy and concern for this kind of subject. This decreases the level of empathy and concern for this kind of subject. The same happens with alcoholics and drug addicts.

It is also something that has happened with abandoned and stray animals (although nowadays it is not common as society is more aware of animal suffering). Stones, attacks and persecutions that have even ended the life of the poor animal have been frequent throughout history, especially if the animal suffered from some deformity or disability.

Bibliographical references

• Wagers, M.; Sousa, W. & Kelling, G. (2008) Broken windows. Environmental Criminology and Crime Analysis. United Kingdom. William Publishing.