Broken Windows Theory and Rezoning, Stigmatization and Prejudice

• In Event: Roundtable: Empirical Tests of Community-Level Theories of Crime

Abstract

According to Goffman (1963) individuals with stigmas are victims of prejudice, discrimination and hate crimes. Specifically, roughly half of all reported hate crimes are driven by racial bias, especially in low SES areas. Similarly, according to Social Identity Theory, people categorize others into ingroups and outgroups based on macro demographics such as race, gender, and SES. Therefore, given that racial minorities tend to live in a lower SES bracket often characterized by poorer living conditions and subpar schools, they are often the victims of stigma. The Broken Window Theory has been used successfully worldwide by small towns as well as cities as large as New York. The term "Broken Windows" comes from the metaphor used to describe this concept: "If a window is broken and left unrepaired, people walking by will conclude that no one cares and no one is in charge." This theory says that the little things matter. The purpose of this explorative study is to gain insight and information in regards to how the rezoning of particular areas can lead to less stigmatization and discrimination among the individuals born and raised in these neighborhoods.

Authors

• Emily Restivo, New York Institute of Technology

• Dina Karafantis, NYIT