Social capital and crime

Abstract

Social capital, collective efficacy, social cohesion, can be defined in various ways and may operate in more or less broad contexts. In general, the social capital perspective has proved useful in helping understand antisocial behavior in many countries, because empirical studies showed that higher levels of social bonds prevent different crimes, in particular homicide and other violent crimes. Not all forms of social capital act in the same way, and several studies have found that social capital seems to exert a preventive effect on aggressive behavior only in certain circumstances.