A planned Israeli study will map street sections in Tel Aviv and examine whether living in areas with high crime is linked to testosterone and cortisol levels and measures of mental well-being.
A new study examines the relationship between crime “hotspots” and biomarkers related to aggression. The central question being asked is whether there is a connection between living on a street with high crime rates and levels of the hormones testosterone and cortisol – two hormones associated with aggression and anxiety responses?
In recent decades, there has been a growing understanding that small parts of a city – specific street segments – can have a greater impact on crime than residential neighborhoods and/or urban or rural areas. Studies show that even in crime-ridden neighborhoods, most criminal incidents are concentrated on a small number of streets. In Tel Aviv, for example, about 5% of the streets are responsible for 50% of the crime in the city.
What characterizes these streets?
- Social disorder: Loose social control, weak community ties, poverty, high tenant turnover.
- Open crime: Presence of criminal networks, frequent exposure to violence and crime.
- Physical neglect: Noise, waste, abandoned buildings, hiding places for illegal uses, as well as in shopping centers where there are lottery booths and alcohol sales that are open 24/7.
The question is: Is there a connection between living in places with high crime rates and levels of the hormones testosterone and cortisol – two hormones associated with aggression and anxiety responses?
How will the research be conducted??
The study is in the preparation and sample definition stages. The researchers – Dr. Rotem Leshem of the Department of Criminology at Bar-Ilan University, Prof. David Weisbord of the Hebrew University, and Dr. Leonard Saig of Bnei Zion Hospital – are currently focusing on mapping street sections in Tel Aviv with the aim of identifying “hot spots” of crime versus “cold spots” with low crime rates.
The map shows the spatial concentration of criminal offenses in the city, demonstrating the “law of concentration of crime in place.” (Source: Weisburd, D., & Amram, S. 2014. Police Practice and Research, 15(2), pp. 101–114
The mapping is based on Prof. Weisbord's previous research, combined with questionnaires for residents that examine the subjective perception of crime and the sense of personal safety. The researchers will also conduct physical observations in the field - checking the level of cleanliness, lighting, noise, the presence of community institutions, and more. Accordingly, the streets will be classified as "hot" and "cold."
In the next phase of the study, participants will be selected from the various street segments, who will be asked to provide saliva samples to measure cortisol and testosterone levels, and to fill out questionnaires examining mental well-being and aggression.
"We are examining how micro-geographical conditions – such as poverty, neglect and weak social ties – not only shape behavior, but also directly affect human biology."
“In fact, this is epigenetic research,” explains Dr. Leshem. “We are examining how micro-geographic conditions – such as poverty, neglect, and weak social ties – not only shape behavior, but also directly affect human biology.”
Epigenetic studies in violent behavior examine the interactions between hormones such as cortisol and testosterone and sociopsychological variables such as childhood trauma, socioeconomic status, educational level, addictions, or criminal background.
High levels of testosterone are linked to aggression and risk-taking, especially in the presence of threats. Cortisol, on the other hand, stimulates fear and sensitivity to punishment, and low levels are associated with an increased risk of aggressive responses. Both hormones balance the avoidance response with the aggressive response—and researchers believe that the immediate physical environment, such as the street where a person lives, can disrupt this balance.
The researchers seek to show that beyond the individual's personal history – the characteristics of the street itself, including noise, dirt, or crumbling buildings – may also affect hormone levels in the body, as well as a tendency toward aggression.
The Contribution: A New Look at Crime
The study offers a new perspective: Crime is not just a law and order problem, but also a health-biological phenomenon. If a link is found between micro-geographic environment and hormonal change, it will be possible to develop more targeted intervention mechanisms – not only through police enforcement, but also through urban planning, community strengthening and emotional support.
Instead of operating at the “neighborhood level,” it will be possible to identify specific streets that constitute hotspots of increased risk – and act towards early, targeted, and more effective prevention.
More of the topic in Hayadan:
2 תגובות
This is a completely correlational study, so the word "effect," as presented by the study's author, is wrong and misleading. But beyond that, I really can't understand the contribution of such a study. Are there parts of the city where life is harder than other parts? Yes. Could the difficulty be expressed in cortisol levels? Yes. Are difficult areas characterized by high crime rates? Yes. Is crime expressed in high testosterone levels? Yes. So where's the innovation here?
Such research only explains why there is such deep disdain for scientists today.
The amount of nonsense listed here is truly amazing.
Is this research on behalf of? To obtain state budgets that are supposedly intended for good purposes but are only in fact intended to funnel money into corruption? Because that's what it looks like