Study: People are quick to judge neighborhoods based on appearances

By Staff Writer

Many individuals rely on aesthetics to determine if they are safe or not, suggests a new study from Binghamton University researchers.

The report, which appears in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, examined how a group of people reacted to pictures of neighborhoods. They were asked to rate the friendliness of the residents living in each area as well as the threat of crime in each location.

Researchers discovered that neighborhoods that contained "disorder," including loose garbage and broken windows, were considered vulnerable to criminal activity. Participants also rated these neighborhoods low in terms of overall friendliness among residents.

Furthermore, many people linked the disorderly neighborhoods to low self-esteem in adolescents. By simply viewing the exteriors of these locations, participants said these these places were not positive places for children to live in.

This study indicates that not only do people judge other humans based on their physical appearance, but they also make snap judgements about entire neighborhoods based on aesthetics.

Children who live in low-income or violent neighborhoods may benefit from a summer boot camp, many of which provide a positive environment for troubled youth.