Graffiti Basics

The Broken Window Theory is a study illustrates the way in which visual elements impact the behavior of communities. This study, conducted in 1982, determined that visual elements that indicate neglect in care for an environment promotes further neglect of even destruction of the environment by those that occupy the area. As elements such as litter, vandalism and graffiti occupy a community, it is likely that members of the community begin to feel unsafe and withdraw from engagement in their own neighborhoods. This often incites further neglect of community leading to increased perceptions of crime with positive contributing members of the community electing to move out to safer neighbourhoods. This shift in social demographic provides others with negative intentions the opportunity to migrate into such areas where they feel safer to conduct criminal acts.

Graffiti is a prime example of a negative visual element that stimulates perceptions of crime, lack of safety, and danger, acting as a catalyst social decline. Although some may argue that graffiti is an art form and a method of artistic and social expression that is beneficial to society, there are stark differences between art and street graffiti that have vastly different effects on communities. See Art vs. Graffiti