As stated by Sampson "Shared perceptions of disorder rather that systematically observed disorder appear to be a mechanism of durable inequality." Evaluating this statement I come to the idea that misconceptions and false belief lead communities to have beliefs and biases that are in many cases not true.
The opposite of disorder is order. As we look at the effects of Social disorder, it would be wise to also evaluate the causes of social order. In the article Symbols of Incivility - Social Disorder and Fear of Crime in Urban Neighborhoods, Albert Hunter explains that wholesome public interaction is the key to maintaining social order. He shows that as hostility, insensitivity and aggression brings social disorder. He also explains that many situations are interpreted incorrectly. For example, a group of boys standing on the corner could be interpreted as being mischievous or as preparing for a friendly game of street basket ball. If people were looking to find problems it would be easy to justify the first interpretation, however; is the citizen know the boys, he or she may realize that these boys mean to break no windows in the community.
Recently I visited a small community in the San Pete county. Because the election for mayor is relatively close I asked some of the citizens how they felt about the state of the city and the potential for building a better community. I felt that many of the citizens only wanted answers to their questions. They stated that many of their questions went without the slightest acknowledgement to the mayor and the city council. While investigating further I found that only one person on the city council stood up to the mayor and asked why? The biggest question that went unanswered was why a certain part of the city was better maintained that other parts of the city. A psychologist would look at this situation and try to determine why people are asking questions and what their internal motives are for those who are withholding proper explanation. The
looking at this situation, I envision how communities begin to be segregated. As questions go unanswered, citizens look to find fault with those around them, this leads to hostility and aggression which causes Social disorder. The vicious cycle of finding fault with each other has just begun and who is to blame? I blame the leaders that denied the citizens answers to their questions.
Abraham Lincoln stated "You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today." I believe that these leaders will be held responsible and will be punished according to the crime.
Feel free to read the report by Albert Hunter at
https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/82421.pdf
Cool article. It makes sense that incivility makes more impact than crime. Incivility, as expressed in the article is the threat of something could happen at any time - either something unpleasant at the least or dangerous at the worst. Day to day living with incivility wears on people and so it makes sense that it more greatly impacts fear in a neighborhood than all out crime.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, I noticed the same quote in Sampson about shared perceptions of disorder versus actual displays of disorder. What gets us more than anything, is what we "think," because what "is" can be immediately changed at any time; and can be untrue the next second, as easily as it was true the second before. I LOVE the positive side of this - tomorrow's destiny is but only the hostage or hero of today's thought.