Philip Zimbardo, a Stanford psychologist, reported in 1969 on some experiments testing the broken-window theory. He arranged to have an automobile without license plates parked with its hood up on a street in the Bronx and a comparable automobile on a street in Palo Alto, California. What did Zimbardo find in his experiment and how does his help explain the broken window concept?
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In Zimbardo's experiment, he wanted to investigate how the presence of disorder, specifically a broken window, can affect people's behavior in a neighborhood. He placed an automobile without license plates with its hood up in both the Bronx, a low-income area known for its high crime rate, and Palo Alto, a wealthy area with a low crime rate.
Zimbardo discovered that in the Bronx, where the broken window and the absence of license plates signaled disorder and neglect, the car was quickly stripped and vandalized. On the other hand, in Palo Alto, where social order was presumed to be more prevalent, the car remained untouched for a significant period.
This experiment helped explain the broken window concept, which suggests that visible signs of disorder and neglect in a neighborhood can lead to an increase in crime and anti-social behavior. The broken window serves as a signal that no one cares or is in control, giving individuals the impression that they can engage in deviant or harmful actions without consequences.
Zimbardo's findings support this theory by showing that a single broken window and the absence of license plates can have a profound impact on people's perception of the environment. When disorder is present and unchecked, it signifies a lack of community concern and social norms, thereby encouraging further acts of vandalism or criminal behavior.
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