The theory of broken windows

In the 1980s, New York was a hellish inferno. It was done over 1500 violent crimes EVERY DAY. 6-7 murders a day. A night on the streets walking was dangerous and risky to ride on the subway, even in the daytime. The robbers and beggars in the subway were commonplace. Dirty and wet platform barely covered. The cars were cold, lay under the feet of debris, walls and ceiling completely covered with graffiti.

That's what told about the New York subway:
"Having stood an endless queue of token, I tried to put it into the turnstile, but found that the coin is spoiled. Nearby stood a tramp: broken turnstile, he now demanded that the passengers gave tokens to him personally. One of his friends leaned toward the changer and pulled teeth stuck chips, covering all the saliva. The passengers were too scared to argue with these guys, "Ha, take that damn badge, what do I care!" Most people passed the turnstiles for free. It was the transport version of Dante's hell. "

The city was in the grip of the most ferocious epidemic of crime in its history.
But then inexplicable happened. After reaching a peak by 1990-th year, crime has declined sharply. Over the next few years, the number of murders decreased by 2/3, and the number of serious crimes - half. By the end of the decade it was done already in Metro to 75% less crime than in the beginning. For some reason, tens of thousands of psychos and Gopnik ceased to violate the law.

What happened? Who hit the magic of stop valve and that it is for the crane?
Its name - "broken windows theory". Canadian sociologist Malcolm Gladwell in his book "The Tipping Point" tells:

"Broken windows" - is the brainchild of criminologists Wilson and Kelling. They argued that the crime - the inevitable result of the lack of order. If a window is broken and not glazed, then passing by deciding that nobody cares and nobody is responsible for anything. Soon will be broken and the other windows, and a sense of impunity will spread to the whole street, sending a signal to the whole district. Signal, calling for more serious crimes. "

Gladwell deals with social epidemics. He believes that a person breaks the law, not only (or even mainly) because of bad heredity or improper upbringing. Of great importance to him is the fact that he sees around him. Context.

Netherlands sociologists confirm this idea. They conducted a series of interesting experiments. For example, a. With a bicycle parking lot near the store and removed the boxes on the handlebars of bicycles hung flyers. Steel watch - how many people give up fliers on the pavement, and how many hesitate. shop wall, near where parked bicycles, was perfectly clean.

Leaflets dropped on the ground 33% of cyclists.
The experiment was then repeated, pre-daubed wall meaningless figures.

Namusorili already 69% of cyclists.
But to return to New York in the era of wildlife crime. In the mid-1980s in the New York subway has changed direction. New director David Gunn started with ... the fight against graffiti. We can not say that all city public happy idea. "Man, Have serious issues - technical issues, fire safety, crime ... Do not waste our money on nonsense!" But Gunn was insistent:

"Graffiti - a symbol of a system crash. If you start the process of restructuring the organization, the first should be a victory over graffiti. Do not winning this battle, no reforms will not take place. We are ready to introduce new trains, worth $ 10 million each, but if we do not protect them from vandalism -. We know what happens. They hold on one day, and then they will spoil. "

And Gunn gave the command to clean cars. The route for the route. The composition of the staff. Every damn car, every single day. "For us it was a religious act" - he said later.

At the end of routes set the washing items. If the car came with graffiti on the walls, drawings were washed away during a turn, otherwise the car in general decommissioning. Dirty cars, from which has not yet washed the graffiti, in any case, did not mix with the clean. Gunn denounced vandals to clear message.

"We had a depot in Harlem, where the carriages stood at night, - he said. - On the first night we were teenagers and spattered with white paint the walls of wagons. The next night, when the paint has dried, they came in and circled the contours and painted it all in a day. That is, they worked 3 nights. We waited, when they finish their "work". Then we took all the rollers and painted over. The boys were upset to tears, but it was drawn in from the bottom up. This was our messidzh to them: "Do you want to spend 3 nights on then to deface a train? Let's. But no one sees ... "

In 1990, as head of the transport police was hired William Bratton. Rather than engage in serious business - serious crimes, he took up the close ... stowaways. Why?

The new chief of police believed - and the problem of graffiti, a huge number of "rabbits" could be a signal indication of a lack of order. And it encouraged the commission of a serious crime. While 170 thousand passengers made their way to the subway for free. Teens just jumped over the turnstiles, or break through by force. And if 2 or 3 people cheated the system, the surrounding (which in other circumstances would not violate the law) joined them. They decided that if someone does not pay, they too will not be. The problem is growing like a snowball.

What did Bratton? He put up near the turnstiles, 10 plainclothes police officers. They snatched "hares" on one, put handcuffs on them and lined up in a chain on the platform. There were stowaways, has not yet completed "big catch". They were then escorted to a police bus, where was searched, fingerprinted, and punched the database. Many weapons proved to myself. Others have found problems with the law.

"For the cops it was a real El Dorado, - said Bratton. - Every arrest was like a pack of popcorn, which is a surprise. What kind of toy will fall to me now? Pistol? Knife? There is a solution? Wow, after you murder! .. Pretty soon the bad guys are smarter, they began to leave weapons at home and pay for travel. "

In 1994, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was elected. He took Bratton of transport management and appointed a chief of the city police. By the way, Wikipedia says that it has applied for the first time Giuliani broken windows theory. Now we know that's not true. However, the merit is unquestionable mayor - he gave the command to develop a strategy throughout New York City.

The police took a hard line in principle with respect to the fine offenders. To arrest everyone who drank and brawled in public places. Who threw the empty bottles. Painted wall. I jump through the turnstiles, begging money from drivers for wiping glasses. If someone urinating in the street, he would go straight to prison.

The level of urban crime began to fall sharply - as fast as in the subway. Police Chief Bratton and Mayor Giuliani explained: "Small and insignificant at first glance, the offenses were the signal for serious crimes."

The chain reaction has been stopped. Thoroughly criminal New York by the end of the 1990s was the safest metropolis of America.

Magic emergency brake load
In my view, broken windows theory quite versatile. You can apply it to different areas of life: communication, parenting, work ... In the next post I will show how it relates to the "harmony with oneself and the world" - our outlook and way of living.

Harmony you!

Author: Airat Galiullin