Causation

Abstract

Both a number of vandal demographic characteristics, as well as qualities of the social and physical context in which vandalism occurs, were examined in the previous chapter as they are associated with the occurrence of vandalistic behavior and, perhaps, its initiation. I view these several correlational and perhaps etiological findings and speculations as prefatory to the primary concerns of the present chapter, “Causation.” What are the roots of vandalism, its sources, its antecedents? The answer will rely on two types of information. The first is a presentation and examination of the several typologies of vandalism which have been put forth. With the exception of Vestermark and Blauvelt’s (1978) approach, which, as noted earlier, focused on the consequences of vandalism (monetary and social costs), these several schemata are each motivational typologies. As such, they collectively provide an array of cogent suggestions for the multiple sources of such behavior. Our second informational source is the set of informal and formal theories of vandalism causation that have been put forth. Some of these, as will be seen, are complex, elaborate, and heuristically framed for purposes of evaluation regarding their adequacy. Other theoretical offerings are better described as informal partial theories or theoretical beginnings. These, too, will be considered.