learning processes / no border concept

[Claudia Westermann]

A fragmentary introduction to social issues on a level of 'city'

( I took the following text from this side
http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/crimtheory/zimbardo.htm
anyone better informed with the issues of psychology than me may add or 
correct. The experiment described was done by Philip G. Zimbardo, Professor 
of Psychology at Stanford University. He has an own website at 
www.zimbardo.com )

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Broken Windows

In 1969, Zimbardo placed one 1959 Oldsmobile auto on a street across from 
the Bronx campus of New York University (a ghetto area), and one on a 
street in Palo Alto, California near the Stanford University campus (a 
rather affluent area). "The license plates of both cars were removed and 
the hoods opened to provide the necessary releaser signals (Zimbardo, 
1969)." Within three days, the car in the Bronx was completely stripped, 
the result of 23 separate incidents of vandalism. The car in Palo Alto sat 
unmolested for over a week. Zimbardo and two of his graduate students 
decided to provide an example by using a sledgehammer to bash the car. They 
found that after they had taken the first blow, it was extremely difficult 
to stop. Observers, who were shouting encouragement, finally joined in the 
vandalism until the car was completely wrecked.

This experiment is the basis of James Q. Wilson's Broken Windows Theory. 
"The thesis states that human behavior is strongly influenced by symbols of 
order and disorder. [In a neighborhood] one unrepaired broken window can 
signal that no one cares, [so that] citizens give in and give up (Wilson, 
P. L., 1997)." Therefore, the objective for preventing street crimes is to 
prevent the first window from getting broken, or prevent the first graffiti 
marks, or prevent the first drunkard from a public display. This has led to 
Neighborhood Watch programs and increased police foot patrols.

These measures have not had a significant impact on crime, but they have 
succeeded in making neighborhood residents feel safer.
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the most famous example of the conclusion they made is the City of New York.
you can find the following text on the official website.

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In 1989, Giuliani entered the race for mayor of New York City as a 
candidate of the Republican and Liberal parties, losing by the closest 
margin in City history. However in 1993, his campaign focusing on quality 
of life, crime, business and education made him the 107th Mayor of the City 
of New York. In 1997 he was re-elected by a wide margin, carrying four out 
of New York City's five boroughs.

As Mayor, Rudy Giuliani has returned accountability to City government and 
improved the quality of life for all New Yorkers. Under his leadership, 
overall crime is down 57%, murder has been reduced 65%, and New York City - 
once infamous around the world for its dangerous streets - has been 
recognized by the F.B.I. as the safest large city in America for the past 
five years.
________________________________

a few things they do not mention on their web site is:

- the ridiculous high costs (which maybe could be excused)
- if you look at the things on a larger scale, you will notice a movement 
of crime but not a lowering
( I have no statistics available here for the US, but I know, that these 
kind of things were tried in German cities also, and it always led only to 
a collapse in other parts)
- if you want that it stays 'safe' you have to augment the protection 
methods permanently

Also known of the US is: completely secluded quarters surveilled and 
protected, excluding everyone else than the people living there and their 
guests (this is one step further).

So, what do they do actually ?

As in the above mentioned experiment described, a loss of identity leads to 
aggressive actions even by people, who you would call 'good' maybe. And in 
the beginning what was there ? An old car with a broken window apparently 
not fitting into the system. It is one of the most hardest to bare 
experiences, when you think of yourself as 'good' and you suddenly realize, 
that it is very much possible to be 'evil' in a way.
The conclusion made, protects the 'good' from the problem of  realizing, 
that they could act in an aggressive way also, what no-one ever had thought 
could be possible. And to secure in this way the feeling of identity.

This is the most common way to solve these things. Does it have to be this 
way ?

There are different concepts also. It is called 'urban project' and 
contrasts the term of 'urbanistik' (sorry can not find a translation - 
maybe it's 'urban planning' , not really actually). It means 
decentralization and participation of the people living there on every 
possible level. It is based on the same idea of assuring identification, 
just that  the means are different (they have tested these things in 
smaller German cities, I just speak for the examples I know). As to say for 
now it can be observed, that the system works on a level of self protection 
with a simultanous lowering of authoritarian actions. Surprising ?

  'urban project'
           |
   participation
           |
   identification
           |
  self protection


the self moderation concept discussed on this list would go in the 
direction of an 'urban project' (actually it's even better, there are more 
possibilities on a level of virtuality ).

this is very shortly... by the way it is not said, that idealistic projects 
really work out.....

errare humanum est


Claudia - human