Analyzing the Causes and Consequences of Rural Vandalism: A case study of BaghBahadoran District

A B S T R A C T
Although social anomalies have a long history, they have manifested with greater intensity and variety in recent decades. Vandalism is one of these anomalies, which is known more as a phenomenon of urban industrialization but can be observed in almost any settlement and should not be overlooked in rural areas. This applied research tries to deal with the causes and consequences of vandalism in the rural settlements of the Baghbahadoran district using a descriptive-analytical method and collecting information through library and field methods. Therefore, 32 officials, local managers, and knowledgeable villagers were surveyed in a targeted way. Based on library studies, interviews, and observations, a questionnaire with 79 questions was designed, validated, distributed, and completed. The reliability of the questionnaire was obtained by Cronbach's alpha method, 0.905. Photo content analysis, interviews, and observations were also used to complete the field study. According to the results, in terms of the places of vandalism, walls, and people's houses, with a frequency of 26 (81.3%) have suffered the most from vandalistic activities. In terms of the type of vandalism, graffiti  (84.4%), carving, and etching  (75%) had the highest frequency. Regarding the characteristics of the vandals, the age group of 11-30 years, nighttime, and male gender had the highest rates. Economic factors (average=4.032) were the most significant factors contributing to rural vandalism. After that, physical-spatial factors (3.731), social (3.713), and psychological factors (3.583) follow. Among the consequences are psychological (3.7966), economic (3.7962), social (3.7087), and physical-spatial (3.498), respectively.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Although crimes and social anomalies have a long history, they have manifested with greater intensity and variety in recent decades. Among these anomalies is vandalism. While this phenomenon is closely associated with urban and industrial societies, it can also be observed in nearly any human settlement, including rural areas.
 
Methodology
This applied research aims to examine the causes and consequences of the phenomenon of vandalism in the rural settlements of the Baghbahadoran district of Lenjan County, using a descriptive-analytical method and collecting information through both library and field methods. Therefore, 32 officials, local managers, and knowledgeable villagers were surveyed in a targeted way. Based on library studies, interviews, and field observations, a questionnaire with 79 questions was designed, validated, distributed, and completed. The reliability of the questionnaire was also obtained by Cronbach's alpha method, reaching 0.905, which is satisfactory. Photo content analysis, interviews, and observations were also used to complete the field study.
 
Results and discussion
Economic factors have been the most significant factors contributing to rural vandalism. Following them are physical-spatial, social, and individual and familial factors in fourth place. The average of economic factors was the highest by a significant margin. Unemployment was the most critical economic factor and the most important factor. Following it, male youth was the second most important factor among individual factors. Neglect of rural areas ranked third among economic factors. Negative impacts of tourism and the emptiness of rural areas ranked next among economic and physical factors, respectively. Individual and psychological consequences were the most significant, followed very closely by economic consequences. Following them were social consequences and, with a slightly larger gap, physical and structural consequences. From these results, it is estimated that although the effects of vandalism have physical-spatial roots, its deep non-physical impacts are of greater importance according to respondents. The spread of rural vandalism has impacted the cultural environment of rural settlements more than their physical landscape. Destruction of public property had the highest average of opinions. Graffiti was identified as the second physical factor, while the costs associated with property repairs and maintenance ranked third among the economic consequences. In general, physical-spatial factors can collectively create conditions that reduce attention and oversight, facilitating increased vandalism and criminal activity in rural areas. Among these factors, the presence of fencing, isolation, and physical protection are of the utmost importance. The ranking of individual-familial and psychological factors in different rural areas may vary; in regions with more social discrimination and inequality, the sense of discrimination between the vandal and the community members may be a more significant factor in vandalism. In places with more economic and social problems, the frustration and disillusionment of the vandal may be a more critical factor in the occurrence of vandalism. The results indicate that economically, in villages with higher unemployment, the unemployment of individuals and engagement in vandalistic behavior is a more significant factor in vandalism. In rural areas with more social discrimination and inequality, severe class and economic gaps may be a more important factor in vandalism. Socially, in villages with more general discontent, this factor is more significant for vandalism, and in places with more social discrimination and inequality, the sense of discrimination among villagers themselves and other urban/rural communities may be a more important factor in vandalism. The ranking of different consequences in various areas may also differ; in areas with more historical and culturally valuable artifacts, the destruction of such artifacts can be a more significant consequence of vandalism. In summary, the physical-spatial consequences of vandalism are more apparent than other consequences, but non-physical, indirect, and perceived consequences have never been overlooked by villagers. In villages with higher rates of vandalism, the feeling of insecurity and the creation of crime increase, and less attention is paid to culture and social values. Similarly, in rural areas with more outside investment, vandalism can have more significant impacts by reducing investment opportunities in the village. In areas where the rural economy is dependent on tourism, the reduction in the value of public properties used by tourists can have worse consequences.
 
Conclusion
Among the factors contributing to the spread of rural vandalism, the highest-ranked factors include: physical-spatial factors (the lack of enclosed spaces, places, and phenomena); individual-familial and psychological factors (gender (predominantly male)); economic factors (unemployment); and social factors (general discontent). On the other hand, among the consequences stemming from the spread of rural vandalism, the highest-ranked consequences include physical-spatial consequences (the destruction of public property), individual-familial and psychological consequences (increased feelings of insecurity), economic consequences (increased costs of repairs and maintenance of private/public property); and social consequences (a decrease in the level of social participation in various activities (social, public, and construction)).
 
Funding
This article is an extract from a research project titled “Investigating the Causes and Consequences of Rural Vandalism (Case Study: Baghbahadoran District)” which was financially supported by Payame Noor University.
 
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved the content of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.
 
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.