Specialization versus individual variation in graffiti writer’s target selection strategies: A behavioral ecological approach

• In Event: Using Optimal Foraging Theory to Understand Offender Target Selection and Exploitation

Abstract

Graffiti writers spray their tags on various types of structures in the urban landscape, including buildings, bridges, street furniture and other target types. An intriguing question is to what extent the observed variety in graffiti target types reflects a mix of specialist and generalist preferences amongst graffiti writers. To answer this question, we draw upon foraging theory and empirical research in behavioral ecology, which shows that a population of foragers can consist of prey specialists, generalists, or both. We use one year of graffiti removal data relating to 1,904 incidents committed by 263 individuals for a medium-sized city in Belgium. Individual target specialization and preferences are analyzed using Monte Carlo simulation and ecological network methods. Our results suggest that the total diversity in target choices at the aggregate level is primarily the result of substantial between-individual variation. The results indicate that the total population of graffiti writers largely consists of target specialists, and can be divided into subgroups that share similar target preferences. Aggregate patterns of target selection do not accurately reflect individual variation in target choice specialization, at least for graffiti writing. The patterns observed here are similar to those observed in animal ecology studies supporting the idea that crime patterns might correspond to common behavioral ecological patterns.

Authors

• Christophe Vandeviver, Ghent University

• Kuralarasan Kumar, Univesity of Ghent

• Wim Bernasco, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR)

• P. Jeffrey Brantingham, University of California Los Angeles