broken windows theory

 

English Wikipedia has an article on:

broken windows theory

Wikipedia

 

• broken window theory

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

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.

• broken windows policing