broken windows theory

English

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Vandalized windows in abandoned housing

Alternative forms

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Etymology

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After article propounding the theory by social scientists James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, “Broken Windows”, Atlantic Monthly (March 1982).

Proper noun

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broken windows theory

  1. (criminology) A criminological theory stating that signs of urban decay (e.g. broken windows, graffiti) signal that an area is not monitored, encouraging more destructive criminal behavior.
    • 2014, Emily St. John Mandel, Station Eleven, Picador (2022), page 249:
      Clark disliked the general state of unshavenness, partly for aesthetic reasons and partly because he was a believer in the broken-windows theory of urban-crime management, the way the appearance of dereliction can pave the way for more serious crimes.
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