Explain broken windows theory. How did a 1969 experiment by Stanford psychologist Philip Zimbardo pertain to this theory?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Broken windows theory is often discussed in conjunction with social disorganization theory, though it is actually a separate theory that explains crime by suggesting that minor forms of disorder will lead to additional disorder. The idea is that signs of disorder breed additional disorder. Their article had a powerful impact on policing, particularly in terms of efforts to reduce serious crime by responding to minor forms of crime. For now, it can simply be suggested that broken windows theory, unlike social disorganization theory, does not view the relationships between community members as contributing to crime; instead the theory views physical and social disorder as leading to crime.
Zimbardo placed two abandoned cars with their hoods up in two different locations: one in the Bronx and one in Palo Alto, California. The car in the Bronx was vandalized within ten minutes after it was abandoned, with a small family being the first to steal from the car. In just one day, the Bronx car was virtually stripped all the way down. In contrast, the car in Palo Alto was not touched for a week. Zimbardo then broke one of the windows in the Palo Alto car. It did not take more than a few hours until the car was reportedly “utterly destroyed” by those passing by the car.