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Broken windows at the individual level escalate to a community crisis

I received a call from a friend who resides in Calabar, Nigeria. As we chatted, I asked, “How’s Calabar?”

“Calabar is no longer what it used to be. The level of crime has increased”

I was upset to hear that about Calabar because it was one of the few cities in Nigeria that I admired. Calabar was known for its cleanliness and relative safety, and of course, it is a place to have fun and eat tasty, filling food. So hearing that crime had increased there was concerning.

My friend alluded to the problem of leadership. When a leader chooses to ignore disorder, he doesn’t know that he is slowly making room for crime. Crime would also increase in a place if the leader is of questionable character and encourages some vices.

Questionable character escalating to leniency in crime does not happen overnight. It starts with growing up. What traits did you exhibit as you grew up that were ignored by those who raised you? It also starts with bad clothes that may not be perceived as bad. The bad habit becomes a disorder in the life of an individual. When this is not checked; and with the negative influence of the environment, the individual contributes to disorder in the community.

Then I asked my friend, “You know that Calabar is one of the cleanest cities in Nigeria. Is it still like that?”

“Well, if you compare it to other cities in Nigeria, maybe. However, if you compare Calabar to itself 10 years ago, the standard has gone down.”

A broken window when not repaired encourages the breaking of more windows and then total vandalism of the house. When you open a door to a bad habit; if you don’t close early, the disorder will make you go against the code of laws – offense against the community. It can start with the damage you do to yourself and then harm others.

Imagine this:

I started eating both healthy and unhealthy foods. I introduced junk food gradually. It was convenient. I’m sure you know what happened. I got to be overweight (which of course is relative). I didn’t bother or should I say I didn’t care because no one pointed it out. I guess I was pretty good in other people’s eyes until I took a photo of myself. My face was big and my neck was ‘shorter’. I didn’t like ‘the big me’. If I had added more, my neck might have disappeared. Mind you, I was the one who decided I was overweight. Seeing the image set off an alarm. Also, my blood pressure went up a bit. For healthy reasons, I needed to give up junk food. And you know it’s easier to gain weight than to lose.

Now, my response to that discovery would have determined how I turned out today. I could have ignored it and carried on and then I would have become obese and not like it. I may not just dislike myself, I may not like skinny girls because they are how I think they should be. It’s not their fault, but I choose to take it out on them. In that state, I can even eat more and become even more antagonistic and intolerant of others. I would also think that anyone who looks at me has a bad impression of me. I can also choose to read negative meanings in harmless words that are said to me.

Or I could go to the other extreme, lose weight drastically and get skinny and look sick. Then, when friends and family start to voice concern, I choose to envy the healthy-looking ones and then, as ‘the big me’ above, take it out on everyone else.

Or I could just respond the right way, work to maintain a healthy weight, and have fun doing it. Having the proper disposition, I can be tolerant of those on the right and left of the scale.

Well, the last scenario happened to me and I lost 10kg. I am not overweight or underweight. My blood pressure has returned to normal. I am working on having exercise as an enjoyable routine.

Our spirit, body and soul are intertwined in such a way that when one part is sick, the others can be affected. “I don’t like that my body can affect the social attitude (which is derived from my heart that understands the spirit and soul)

When a bad habit/attitude is not stopped, it becomes a mess in your life and spills over into the community.

“Let him be a little boy”

“Leave her, she will learn when she grows up”

You hear that when you’re in the process of scolding a small child. A child who refuses to respond when called is disrespectful and should be seen as such. The child should be encouraged rebukingly and lovingly to respond when called. A child who is not taught to say ‘thank you’ grows up an ungrateful with an entitlement mindset.

A child who throws a tantrum and is not trained to stop it continues to break things around the house when angry or shoot when he is in a road rage. Now, of course, not everyone gets to the point of shooting; but then you know what I mean. Relationships can be damaged and depression can set in. A child without the approval of friends and family grows up not loving himself, then develops hatred that drives him to shoot himself and others.

When one of the windows in a building is broken and not repaired, it is assumed that other windows will soon follow. When left unrepaired, it is an indication that no one cares. It will only get worse.

A drug addict starts with the first inhalation or the first injection; then it becomes routine. Such a person would need money to maintain the lifestyle. Penniless; and desperate for the jab, he can either steal or kill.

Disorder and crime are inseparable.

People delight in “beating the system” without realizing that it is a mess in their lives that can complicate their lives. Do you evade taxes and fees and congratulate yourself for being ‘smart’? It’s just a matter of time, the consequences will come. Usually you won’t be prepared.

When a disorder is not addressed, it is disapproved of; if no one ‘paid attention’, it leads to the breakdown of law and order in a community.

Don’t live in auto drive. Always evaluate yourself to get rid of bad clothes. Remember, you do not live only for yourself, but also for others. Yes, you live for the younger generations who will look to you as a role model for them. Focus on making a healthy and positive impact in your community.

To learn more about the broken windows theory, you can read JQ Wilson and GL Kelling’s post on broken windows. You can also read Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.

I would love to read from you. What do you think? Do you agree that bad habits or disorders in people’s lives are one of the main causes of community crimes? What other reasons give rise to disorders and crimes in the community?