Collective Efficacy
Definition
A concept developed by Robert Sampson referring to the combination of social cohesion among neighbours and their shared willingness to intervene in local problems. Areas high in collective efficacy sustain lower crime rates even when poverty is held constant.
- Originator
- Robert Sampson
- Components
- Social cohesion plus willingness to intervene
- Effect
- Lower crime independent of poverty level
- Field
- Social disorganisation / critical criminology
Common questions
How is collective efficacy different from simple neighbourhood cohesion?+
Cohesion alone (residents knowing and trusting each other) is not enough; collective efficacy requires that trust to translate into a shared willingness to actually intervene, such as confronting truant youths or calling police on suspicious activity.
Why is holding poverty constant important to the concept?+
It shows collective efficacy is not simply a proxy for wealth. Two neighbourhoods with similar poverty levels can have very different crime rates depending on their level of collective efficacy, which is what makes it a useful policy lever distinct from economic intervention.
Related terms
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- Social Disorganisation
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