Louis Wirth hypothesized that population size, density, and social
heterogeneity are the principal attributes defining a city and that
these attributes are conducive to a specific behavioral pattern and
moral attitude. An increase in the intensity of the attributes is
postulated to lead to the accentuation of behaviors associated with
urbanism. Crime is one of the behaviors associated with urbanism.
This article explores the relationship between crime and urbanism
attributes, using data from three countries and simple correlation
and regression analysis. The research indicates that there are
similarities as well as differences in trends in the three countries.
The study did not accept the generalization of Wirth's hypothesis
across the countries studied for criminal behavior. The study con
cludes on the need to carry out more cross-cultural studies to identify
the relationship between the defining characteristics of urban areas
and urban crime patterns.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Al Ankary, K.M., & El Bushra, E.-S. (1989). Urban growth and urbanization in Saudi Arabia . In K. M. Al Ankara & E.-S. El Bushra (Eds.), Urban and rural profiles in Saudi Arabia (The Urbanization of the Earth Series, pp. 3-13). Berlin : Gerbruder Brorntraeger.
2.
Beasley, R.W., & Antunes, C. (1974). The etiology of urban crime: Ecological analysis . Criminology, 11, 439-461.
3.
Berelson, B., & Steiner, G. (1964). Human behavior: An inventory of scientific findings. New York: Harcourt Brace and World.
4.
Bernard, T.J. (1990). Twenty years of testing theories: What have we learned and why? Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency , 27(4), 325-347.
5.
Bernett, R.R., & Lynch, J.P. (1990). Does a difference makes a difference ? Comparing cross national crime indicators. Criminology, 28(2), 153-181.
6.
Booth, A., Welch, S., & Johnson, D.R. (1976). Crowding and urban crime rates. Urban Affairs Quarterly, 11, 291-301.
7.
Boyer, R., & Savageau, D. (1981). Places rated almanac: Your guide to the best places to live in America. New York: Rand McNally.
8.
Brantingham, P., & Brantingham, P. (1984). Patterns in crime. New York: Macmillan.
9.
Galle, O.R. (1973). Population density, social structure, and interpersonal violence: An intermetropolitan test of competing models. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association , Montreal.
10.
Grooves, W.B., Newman, G., & Corrado, C. (1987). Islam, modernization, and crime: A test of the religious ecology thesis. Journal of Criminal Justice, 15, 495-503.
11.
Kvalseth, T.O. (1977). A note on the effects of population density and unemployment on urban crime. Criminology, 15, 105-110.
12.
LaFree, G., & Birkbeck, C. (1991). The neglected situation: A cross national study of the situational characteristics of crime. Criminology, 29, 73-98.
13.
Lester, D. (1989). Geospatial variables and behaviour: LVI the spatial autocorrelation of states suicide and homicide rates. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 68, 218.
14.
Lester, D. (1991). The climate of urban areas in the United States and their rates of personal violence (suicide and homicide). Death Studies, 15, 611-616.
15.
Lester, D. (1992). Religiosity, suicide and homicide: A cross national examination. Psychological Reports, 71, 1282.
16.
Lester, D. (1993). Suicide and homicide rates and national character . Psychological Reports, 73, 194.
17.
Messner, S.F., & Golden, R.M. (1992). Racial inequality and racially disaggregated homicide rates: An assessment of alternative theoretical explanation. Criminology, 30(3), 421-447.
18.
Ministry of Interior. (1986). Statistical yearbook of the Ministry of Interior. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: General Management for Organization and Program, KSA.
19.
Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Deputy Ministry of Planning. (1989). Atlas of Saudi Cities-Existing conditions of 1987 . Riyadh: Saudi Arabia: The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
20.
Mladenka, K.R., & Hill, K.Q. (1976). A reexamination of the etiology of urban crime . Criminology, 13, 491-456.
21.
Phillipson, M. (1974). Understanding crime and delinquency; A sociological introduction. Chicago: Aldine.
22.
Pressman, I., & Carol, I. (1971). Crime as a diseconomy of scale. Review of Social Economy, 29, 227-236.
23.
Rosenfeld, R., & Messner, S.F. (1991). The social sources of homicide in different types of societies. Sociological Forum, 6(1), 51-71.
24.
Shaw, C.R., & McKay, H.D. (1969). Juvenile delinquency and urban areas. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
25.
Shichor, D., Decker, D.L., & O'Brien, P.M. (1979). Population density and criminal victimization: Some unexpected findings in central cities. Criminology, 17, 184-193.
26.
Skogan, W.G. (1977). The changing distribution of big-city crime: A multi-city time series analysis. Urban Affairs Quarterly, 13, 33-48.
27.
Statistical Bureau, Management and Coordination Agency. (1987). Japan statistical year book. Tokyo, Japan: Japan Statistical Association.
28.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. (1982). Census of Population. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
29.
Vetter, H.J., & Wright, J. (1974). Introduction to criminology. Springfield, IL: Thomas.
30.
Villa, B. (1994). A general paradigm for understanding criminal behavior: Extending evolutionary ecological theory. Criminology , 32(3), 311-359.
31.
Wikstrom, P.H. (1991). Urban crime, criminals and victims: The Swedish experience in an Anglo-American comparative perspective. New York: Springer-Verlag.
32.
Wilson, J.Q., & Boland, B. (1976). Crime. In G. William & N. Glazer, (Eds.), The urban predicament. Washington, DC: Urban Institute.
33.
Wirth, L. (1938). Urbanism as a way of life. American Journal of Sociology, 44, 1-24.
34.
Wolfgang, M.E. (1968). Urban crime. In J. Q. Wilson, (Ed.), The metropolitan enigma (pp. 245-281). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
