Broken Window Theory Analysis

It is important for this essay that the definition used for selfishness and for cowardice is clear. Selfishness is the feature of doing that which brings you welfare, luck or even pleasure. This is not the same as taking care of yourself, as selfishness includes others who are a victim of your deeds. Someone who is selfish doesn’t act to others’ feelings or needs.

Broken windows theory is a theory in which “foot patrol officers pay more attention to disorderly behavior and minor offenses than do motor patrol officers” (Police & Society, p.100). It related to foot patrol because as I stated in question 5, foot patrol officers come in contact with citizens more often that those who patrol in

Selflessness is the idea that one is able to be more concerned with the needs of others over themselves. The value of selflessness is crucial in the Younger household, and is exemplified by Mama who plans on using the insurance money selflessly to buy a house for her family, rather than taking a vacation. Despite this excellent guide, Walter has a sense of entitlement to the insurance money as he says, “He was my father too.” (Hansberry 38). Due to his poor economic conditions, Walter

Philosophers have debated for centuries the question “Are humans are selfish or selfless?” There are two main arguments for debating human nature, ethical egoists and ethical altruists. Ethical egoists believe that “even though we can act in others’ interests because we are concerned for others, we ought always to act in our own interest” (Solomon et al 2012 p. 460). Ethical altruists believe quite the opposite; ethical altruism is the belief that “people ought to act with each other’s interests in mind” (Solomon et al 2012 p. 461). In discussing the four theories, psychological egoism, psychological altruism, ethical egoism, and ethical altruism, with my husband, there was not a clear dividing line for whether humans are selfish or selfless in nature. After much debate, we concluded that humans are born ethical egoists; however, ethical altruists are made through proper training, care, and nurture.

Selfishness is a disease of the soul that every person experiences several times throughout their life. To say that selfishness has never been experienced would be hypocrisy. To say that selfishness is a beneficial trait would be erroneous. Although as humans we lie to ourselves, there is no question that selfishness can make any person a fool. Being selfish consumes us and changes us into someone we are not. Whether it leads to getting people killed, losing love, or abolishing families, selfishness always leads to destruction.

Selfishness is being concerned for oneself or one’s advantage and welfare regardless of others. Selfness is demonstrated when a person leaves and does not tell anyone where they are going. In Into the Wild Jon Krakauer tells the story of Chris McCandless’s selfish quest for “ultimate Freedom”. Chris is selfish because he takes his privileged life for granted. Then, Chris decides to leave and he totally ignores and blocks out his family. Finally Chris builds relationships with people, then leaves when they are no longer needed. Chris taking his life for granted, his ignorance and the fact that he is an absentee is why Chris McCandless’s quest for “ultimate freedom” is selfish.

When we make decisions in our daily lives and decide to think only of ourselves, we sometimes don’t realize we are hurting others. People need to be a little selfless instead of being reclusive and self-centered. In “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin, the social class prejudice in that time period in the south caused Armand to change from a loving caring husband and father to a selfish cold hearted person due to his son being dark skinned. His changed manner is shown by the speaker telling us, “When he spoke to her, it was with averted eyes, from which

Inconsideration towards others could lead to selfishness. This is shown in the book, The Hawaiian Quilt by Wanda E. Brunstetter and Jean Brunstetter, when the main character Mandy, who lived in an Amish town in Indiana during the early 2000s, took a vacation to Hawaii with her friends, but left her boyfriend, Gideon, behind. As Mandy’s trip on Kauai turned out longer than she expected, her love for Gideon faded, while Gideon wanted Mandy to decide to join the Amish church and marry him. While it appeared that everyone in the story was perfectly good, with integrity, and innocence, Gideon was the most domineering and improper character. Gideon's controlling attitude caused him to be impolite and uncaring towards other people.

Life is about considering others and their feelings, but there are people who only think about themselves, sometimes on purpose sometimes inherently. In the book Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer the main protagonist Chris McCandless was inherently selfish in his journey into Alaska.

Anyone who is selfish is an enemy. Many wise people have left behind words for this generation to help guide it along the right path. "Every heart is filled with light. But to find it, you must first venture through darkness..." (Anonymous). These words have gone into vain as selfishness has placed itself among people’s thoughts. The actions that selfishness leads people to do has no other purpose to serve than to benefit themselves. Even if it seems to help someone, the true intention is to make themselves feel better. When combined with pride, it becomes the consumer of a person’s behavior. The author James Hunt wrote the short story “The Scarlet Ibis” which the main character is selfish towards his younger brother. Brother, the main

The Broken Windows Theory was developed by James Wilson and George Kelling in 1982, the theory purposes that individuals involved in crime may be victims of their environment, lacking social control these environments are overtaken by criminal activity causing the people that are associated with the area to adjust to their surroundings which often involves looking the other way when criminal activity occurs. The theory focuses on deterioration of property such as neglected buildings, homes and neighborhoods, implying that neglect in these areas promotes vandalism, crime and delinquency. Moreover, the disorder associated with run down areas can generate and sustains serious crime and the people that are forced to live in these crimes invested areas often feel helpless and withdrawn. Not knowing whom to trust can create social divide which allows serious crimes to go undetected in that people are too afraid to report them. (Schmalleger, 2015, p.159) One implication of the Broken Window theory is “Criminology of Place” which uses the Broken Window Theory to help with identifying crime, also called environmental criminology it builds on the routine activities theory and situational crime prevention ideas such as crime "Hotspots" that are found in neighborhoods and city streets. A study conducted by the University of Chicago examined crime "hotspots"

In contrast, even though one was once intended to commit a crime, if one is at the place where is comfortable and tidy, one cannot commit a violent act easily and actually begins to think again about breaking a law. This theory flows into Gladwell’s argument about the Tipping Points that forces people toward violence. Gladwell believes that the little things around people can act as catalysts and significantly change the outcomes of certain situations. As Gladwell notes, “The Power of Context is an environmental argument. It says that behavior is a function of social context” (Gladwell 159). There has been a similar argument about influence of surroundings in earlier days, but it shows little difference from the claim of Gladwell. Early environmentalism emphasizes the importance of fundamental social factors; crime is the result of social injustice, structural economic inequities, racism, and decades of social neglect (Gladwell 159). However, according to the Power of Context, Tipping Point – the critical point in an evolving situation that leads to an irreversible development – may be as simple and trivial. People do not have to solve the big problems or undertake some heroic steps to decrease a crime rate. All they need to do is scrubbing off graffiti and arresting fare-beaters.

I didn’t truly understand it at the time, but as I grow older and mature I am beginning to understand more and more. Also, in that same conversation, my father told me about some of the people he works with and works for, and how they give back but often only in the spotlight. They will donate money when the attention is on them, or they will do charity events when the media is involved. Looking back at it, this is a very selfish idea. When do we hit that point in our life where we are so selfish that we can not help others; is it a conscious decision or are we just not aware of our actions? I have seen this same of idea of selfishness in my own experiences. I went to a very wealthy private school, with many students coming very wealthy families. Often these families would donate money to the school, but in return they expected a plaque or they expected something to be named after them, some kind of recognition. Some people will say this is not selfish because they are giving back; however, others will say this is a selfish action because they are only giving looking for a return.

Selfishness surrounds us in everything we do because it is human nature to be selfish. Without selfishness we would not be able to take care of ourselves and ensure that we are fed and all our needs are fulfilled. Many people and the surrounding environment suffer because of selfishness but without it the reality

Or, consider the envious individual who tries to get you to feel guilty for your hard-earned success. "You are lucky to have done so well," the envious person says. "Now you have a duty to share some of your success with others." Ce rtainly, a selfish person wants to share his success with those he genuinely cares about—his family, friends, or children (greater values). But why should he make sacrifices to individuals he does not know or care about (lesser values)?