Short Stuff: Neighborhood Watch

Freakonomics applies the tools of economics to explain real-world phenomena that are not conventionally thought of as “economic.” Authored by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, Freakonomics argues that data analysis and incentives can explain a lot about human behavior, and that a great deal of what experts and conventional wisdom tell us is wrong. As they explore these themes, the authors give us some powerful—and highly counterintuitive—insights into why the world is the way it is.

Conversations from the local news to the national debate stage make it sound like US crime rates are increasing—but they’re actually declining. Why does it feel like crime rates are worse than they really are?

In his groundbreaking book Bowling Alone, political scientist Robert D. Putnam argues that the social glue holding the US together—its social capital—is breaking down. Social capital—the value of cohesive relationships and networks—differs from the types of capital that economists study (such as financial and physical resources). Social capital enriches people and communities by enabling mutual trust, support, and communication. But after peaking in the 1950s, the US’s social capital has fallen, even as other forms of capital have risen.

Putnam warns that if the US’s social glue keeps fraying, the collective social systems we rely on could dissolve. In this guide, we’ll explore Putnam’s argument that social capital is vital to society, and we’ll follow as he tries to solve the mystery of what caused its decline in the first place. We’ll look at whether these social trends have continued into the 21st century, examine different views on what causes social change, and see how various organizations use social capital for the betterment of all.

In America, police officers spend most of their training for violent crime, despite spending most of their time on the job dealing with non-violent incidents. Because of this, many are calling for an overhaul of the current police system in the US.

In his groundbreaking book Bowling Alone, political scientist Robert D. Putnam argues that the social glue holding the US together—its social capital—is breaking down. Social capital—the value of cohesive relationships and networks—differs from the types of capital that economists study (such as financial and physical resources). Social capital enriches people and communities by enabling mutual trust, support, and communication. But after peaking in the 1950s, the US’s social capital has fallen, even as other forms of capital have risen.

Putnam warns that if the US’s social glue keeps fraying, the collective social systems we rely on could dissolve. In this guide, we’ll explore Putnam’s argument that social capital is vital to society, and we’ll follow as he tries to solve the mystery of what caused its decline in the first place. We’ll look at whether these social trends have continued into the 21st century, examine different views on what causes social change, and see how various organizations use social capital for the betterment of all.

When you hear the word “bias,” you may think of a conscious form of prejudice—but the most potent biases are actually subconscious. These implicit biases are normal neurological responses to the culture you grow up in. In the United States, everyone encounters and encodes antiblack bias to some degree, even in black communities. This racial bias doesn’t just influence how you make decisions—it determines what you notice in your environment and what becomes invisible. And in high-stakes situations like police encounters, the consequences of racial bias can be devastating.

In this guide, we’ll discuss how your brain creates bias; how that bias impacts every area of your life, from where you live to how you post online; and, most importantly, how to combat implicit bias to create a fairer world for everyone. We’ll also compare Dr. Eberhardt’s research on racial bias to other popular books on racism such as How to Be an Antiracist and White Fragility.

Widely acclaimed upon its publication in 2017, The Color of Law demonstrates that racial residential segregation—the fact that some neighborhoods are almost exclusively African American while others are almost exclusively white—is the result of explicit government policy rather than personal choice and random chance. From the conclusion of the Civil War through to the present day, federal, state, and local governments have enacted laws to confine African Americans to particular areas and prevent them from moving into others. These policies have had a profound and lasting impact on African Americans, affecting their educational and job opportunities, economic well-being, and physical health.

Most of the people exposed to Pasco County’s intelligence-led policing program, which monitors people deemed likely to commit crimes, feel it’s harassment, and policing experts call the program “morally repugnant.” \

Most of the people exposed to Pasco County’s intelligence-led policing program, which monitors people deemed likely to commit crimes, feel it’s harassment, and policing experts call the program “morally repugnant.” \

Conversations from the local news to the national debate stage make it sound like US crime rates are increasing—but they’re actually declining. Why does it feel like crime rates are worse than they really are?

Your intuition is trying to keep you safe, but are you listening? In The Gift of Fear, security specialist Gavin de Becker contends that violence is a normal part of human nature and that you possess an innate ability to detect warning signs of danger—your intuition. He writes that when you ignore this instinct in favor of logic, you become more vulnerable to danger. By learning to identify warning signs and trust your intuition, you can better manage your safety and be more prepared for dangerous situations.

In this guide, we’ll discuss some misconceptions of violence, the importance of trusting intuition, and methods for predicting and preventing various forms of violence. We'll delve into strategies for handling workplace, domestic, and youth violence, while providing scientific research on violence, fear, and intuition as well as additional safety tips to complement de Becker's strategies.