The broken windows theory is a concept that originated in criminology and has had a great impact in the field of social psychology. This theory holds that disorder and lack of maintenance in an urban environment, such as abandoned buildings, graffiti on walls, or broken glass, can lead to an increase in crime and delinquency in that area. The idea behind this theory is that disorder sends signals that social norms are not respected, which in turn leads to a deterioration of the social fabric and an increase in antisocial behavior.
The Broken Windows Experiment
The Broken Windows Experiment was carried out in 1982 by criminologists George L. Kelling and James Q. Wilson in New York City. York. It consisted of implementing changes in a specific urban environment to see if this had any impact on crime. In an area of the city where there were abandoned buildings with numerous broken windows, it was decided to quickly repair the broken windows and clean the area of graffiti and trash. The results were surprising: the crime rate in that area decreased significantly compared to other similar areas that had not been intervened. This experiment demonstrated that the simple act of repairing broken windows and keeping an environment clean could have a positive effect on crime prevention.
Psychological implications of the broken windows theory
From the point of view of social psychology, the broken windows theory has important implications in relation to how we perceive and respond to our environment. The concept of "social property" plays a crucial role in this theory, since it is maintained that the care and maintenance of a shared space is the responsibility of all those who use it. When we observe disorder and deterioration in an environment, this can influence our own norms and behaviors, leading us to adopt less civil and respectful attitudes towards our environment and towards others. On the contrary, a clean, orderly and well-kept environment can foster positive norms of coexistence and contribute to social cohesion.
The Stanford Prison Experiment
One of the experiments Most famously illustrating the effects of environment on human behavior is the Stanford Prison Experiment, carried out in 1971 by psychologist Philip Zimbardo. In this study, a group of college students were randomly assigned to act as guards or prisoners in a simulated prison in the basement of a Stanford University building. What was initially planned as a two-week experiment had to be interrupted after just six days due to the extreme violence and cruelty that was unleashed in the prison.
The effects of the situation on human behavior
The Stanford prison experiment revealed how extreme situations and role dynamics can significantly influence human behavior. The participants who played the role of guards adopted authoritarian and abusive behaviors towards the prisoners, while the latter showed signs of submission and desperation. Although all participants were aware that this was a simulated experiment, the extreme conditions in which they found themselves and the pressure of the prison environment led to a rapid deterioration of the situation, evidencing the profound effects that the context can have on our actions and attitudes.
In conclusion, both the broken windows theory and the Stanford prison experiment show us the importance of considering the impact of the environment on human behavior. Our physical and social environment can significantly influence our norms, attitudes and behaviors, and it is essential to take these factors into account when analyzing issues such as crime prevention, coexistence in society, and individual and group behavior in extreme situations. These studies invite us to reflect on the responsibility we have as individuals and as a society in building safe, healthy and respectful environments for all.