Graffiti Prevention: Fact or Fiction?
Graffiti plagues most cities and communities. True. Graffiti costs most cities millions of dollars every year. True. There is no way to prevent graffiti. Many people believe this. But it is not true. In its essence, graffiti is based on a risk vs reward system. As a result of understanding this risk and reward system we are better able to understand graffiti. Specifically, it allows us to understand what drives graffiti vandals and what motivates them. But most importantly, how to deter them. Graffiti prevention is based on a navigation of risk and reward. The higher the risk and the removal of the reward the less likelihood of graffiti.
What is the Risk of Graffiti?
Graffiti is high risk behavior. The risks associated with graffiti are surprisingly many. Some risk factors are obvious others, especially relating to the graffiti subculture, are more complicated. Many in the graffiti subculture thrive on risk, often looking for locations to paint that are highly visible. In turn, these locations present higher risk of harm, death or apprehension. Risk drives them to do graffiti not only for the exhilaration and adrenaline rush, but for the notoriety it brings. Painting on high risk locations such as rooftops, bridges, overpasses, trains, etc. gains high praise from the graffiti subculture. This is an enticing factor. Fortunately, there are deterring factors to the risk/reward equation as well.
. Risk drives them to do graffiti not only for the exhilaration and adrenaline rush, but for the notoriety it brings. Painting on high risk locations such as rooftops, bridges, overpasses, trains, etc. gains high praise from the graffiti subculture. This is an enticing factor. Fortunately, there are deterring factors to the risk/reward equation as well.
What is the Reward of Graffiti?
Writing graffiti is risky and to graffiti writers, there is a reward that justifies this risk. Graffiti writers partake in graffiti because it provides a great deal of social gratification that appeals to them on an emotional level. And through graffiti, taggers gain recognition in the community and accolades from the graffiti subculture. With this recognition comes feelings of self worth for the tagger as they build their reputations. Better known as “street cred”. Although deterring graffiti can be an arduous task, by understanding graffiti in terms of risk versus reward, graffiti can be prevented.
Graffiti walks a fine line between risk that entices and risk that deters. Furthermore, this line, depends on the of type and degree of risk in relation to the potential reward. These risk vs reward factors can work in our favor from a prevention standpoint.
Risk vs Reward of Graffiti
Risk vs reward is what graffiti taggers assess in their decision making process. Therefore, this relationship dictates if, when and where graffiti takes place. Weighing the risk vs reward, taggers search for locations that will get them maximum reward of visibility within a reasonable threshold of risk. Locations such as trains, major transportation routes, and elevated locations such as rooftops and water towers usually provide a great deal of exposure. These locations become ideal if the risk levels are not overly high.
Changing the Ratio
The risk vs reward relationship is key in determining the likelihood of graffiti vandalism. Understanding this relationship is important in assessing the vulnerability locations. This concept can work in the favor of prevention. By reducing, minimizing or eliminating rewards, locations become less enticing to graffiti writers. Similarly, by increasing the risk factors, they become less enticing. This concept applies to individual locations, neighborhoods and communities. By either reducing the social reward or increasing the risk, graffiti activity declines substantially. Manipulating this risk/reward ratio can come about as a result of changing certain social or environmental factors.