Perceived inequality drives crime rates more effectively than absolute levels of poverty
Relative deprivation theory explains that crime rates are driven more by the perceived gap between the rich and the poor than by the actual level of poverty in a society.
Crime is often higher in wealthy societies with high inequality than in uniformly poor ones because of 'relative deprivation'—the feeling of injustice that arises when people compare themselves to more successful reference groups. Samuel Stouffer’s research during World War II demonstrated that satisfaction is based on local comparisons rather than absolute standards.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 1-question quiz