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Journal Article•DOI•

Statistical physics of crime: a review.

Maria R. D'Orsogna1, Maria R. D'Orsogna2, Matjaz Perc3, Matjaz Perc4•
California State University1, University of California, Los Angeles2, University of Maribor3, King Abdulaziz University4
01 Mar 2015-Physics of Life Reviews (Elsevier Publishing)-Vol. 12, pp 1-21
TL;DR: In this article, the authors review different approaches aimed at modeling and improving our understanding of crime, focusing on the nucleation of crime hotspots using partial differential equations, self-exciting point process and agent-based modeling, adversarial evolutionary games, and network science behind the formation of gangs and large-scale organized crime.
About: This article is published in Physics of Life Reviews.The article was published on 2015-03-01 and is currently open access. It has received 198 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Crime prevention & Organised crime.

Summary (1 min read)

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Summary

  • This is particularly evident – even for microcriminality – in urban areas (in Europe and North America the percent of population living in urban areas is around 85%).
  • And the role of mathematical, statistical, and physical models has been steadily increasing.
  • Thus, the paper [6] appears to be extremely timely and useful.
  • Generally speaking, models are often more descriptive than predictive, in the sense that it is not expected that they predict e.g. the number of burglaries or car thefts that will occur in a given district over a given period of time.
  • Nevertheless, they can be instrumental in describing the mechanisms by which it can be foreseen that a concentration of crimes can appear in particular zones (hot spots), or the “contagion” that criminal behaviour can have on particular classes of individuals.
  • This description can in turn suggest how to contrast the phenomena.
  • Therefore, modelling the diffusion of criminal (or simply unlawful) behaviour in urban areas can be a tool that administrations and police authorities can use in order to choose optimal strategies to combat crime.
  • And this is particularly important in a horizon of budget cuts that impose the best use of the existing resources, optimization of strategies, logistics etc.
  • Of course “for complex phenomena as criminality (in its various guises), the goal is not to represent the whole reality, let alone generate precise predictions.
  • The enhanced understanding of “stylized facts” that characterise a system of interest by isolating elements of a theoretical model can shed new light on the subject and contribute to new insights into the more complex global picture.
  • With the aid of such models, one can then investigate the various effects implied by factors such as the severity of punishment, duration of imprisonment, different deterrence strategies, or the allocation of limited crime reduction resources in the most efficient way” [4].

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Citations
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Journal Article•DOI•
Statistical physics of human cooperation

[...]

Matjaz Perc1, Jillian J. Jordan2, David G. Rand2, Zhen Wang3, Stefano Boccaletti, Attila Szolnoki1, Attila Szolnoki4 •
University of Maribor1, Yale University2, Northwestern Polytechnical University3, Hungarian Academy of Sciences4
08 May 2017-Physics Reports
TL;DR: In this article, the authors review experimental and theoretical research that advances our understanding of human cooperation, focusing on spatial pattern formation, on the spatiotemporal dynamics of observed solutions, and on self-organization that may either promote or hinder socially favorable states.

984 citations

Journal Article•DOI•
Statistical physics of human cooperation

[...]

Matjaz Perc1, Jillian J. Jordan2, David G. Rand2, Zhen Wang3, Stefano Boccaletti, Attila Szolnoki4, Attila Szolnoki1 •
University of Maribor1, Yale University2, Northwestern Polytechnical University3, Hungarian Academy of Sciences4
19 May 2017-arXiv: Physics and Society
TL;DR: Experimental and theoretical research is reviewed that advances the understanding of human cooperation, focusing on spatial pattern formation, on the spatiotemporal dynamics of observed solutions, and on self-organization that may either promote or hinder socially favorable states.
Abstract: Extensive cooperation among unrelated individuals is unique to humans, who often sacrifice personal benefits for the common good and work together to achieve what they are unable to execute alone. The evolutionary success of our species is indeed due, to a large degree, to our unparalleled other-regarding abilities. Yet, a comprehensive understanding of human cooperation remains a formidable challenge. Recent research in social science indicates that it is important to focus on the collective behavior that emerges as the result of the interactions among individuals, groups, and even societies. Non-equilibrium statistical physics, in particular Monte Carlo methods and the theory of collective behavior of interacting particles near phase transition points, has proven to be very valuable for understanding counterintuitive evolutionary outcomes. By studying models of human cooperation as classical spin models, a physicist can draw on familiar settings from statistical physics. However, unlike pairwise interactions among particles that typically govern solid-state physics systems, interactions among humans often involve group interactions, and they also involve a larger number of possible states even for the most simplified description of reality. The complexity of solutions therefore often surpasses that observed in physical systems. Here we review experimental and theoretical research that advances our understanding of human cooperation, focusing on spatial pattern formation, on the spatiotemporal dynamics of observed solutions, and on self-organization that may either promote or hinder socially favorable states.

799 citations

Journal Article•DOI•
Universal scaling for the dilemma strength in evolutionary games.

[...]

Zhen Wang1, Zhen Wang2, Satoshi Kokubo1, Marko Jusup1, Jun Tanimoto1 •
Kyushu University1, Southwest University2
01 Sep 2015-Physics of Life Reviews
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed new universal scaling parameters for the dilemma strength, and proved universality by showing that the conditions for an ESS and the expressions for the internal equilibriums in an infinite, well-mixed population subjected to any of the five reciprocity mechanisms depend only on the new scaling parameters.

421 citations

Journal Article•DOI•
Modeling Radicalization Phenomena in Heterogeneous Populations.

[...]

Serge Galam1, Marco Alberto Javarone2•
Sciences Po1, University of Cagliari2
11 May 2016-PLOS ONE
TL;DR: The required minimum individual core involvement to actually curb radicalization is calculated and is found to be a function of both the majority or minority status of the sensitive subpopulation with respect to the core subpopulation and the degree of activeness of opponents.
Abstract: The phenomenon of radicalization is investigated within a mixed population composed of core and sensitive subpopulations. The latest includes first to third generation immigrants. Respective ways of life may be partially incompatible. In case of a conflict core agents behave as inflexible about the issue. In contrast, sensitive agents can decide either to live peacefully adjusting their way of life to the core one, or to oppose it with eventually joining violent activities. The interplay dynamics between peaceful and opponent sensitive agents is driven by pairwise interactions. These interactions occur both within the sensitive population and by mixing with core agents. The update process is monitored using a Lotka-Volterra-like Ordinary Differential Equation. Given an initial tiny minority of opponents that coexist with both inflexible and peaceful agents, we investigate implications on the emergence of radicalization. Opponents try to turn peaceful agents to opponents driving radicalization. However, inflexible core agents may step in to bring back opponents to a peaceful choice thus weakening the phenomenon. The required minimum individual core involvement to actually curb radicalization is calculated. It is found to be a function of both the majority or minority status of the sensitive subpopulation with respect to the core subpopulation and the degree of activeness of opponents. The results highlight the instrumental role core agents can have to hinder radicalization within the sensitive subpopulation. Some hints are outlined to favor novel public policies towards social integration.

325 citations

Journal Article•DOI•
Networks of networks – An introduction

[...]

Dror Y. Kenett1, Matjaž Perc2, Stefano Boccaletti•
Boston University1, University of Maribor2
01 Nov 2015-Chaos Solitons & Fractals
TL;DR: This Special Issue is devoted to networks of networks, structure, dynamics and evolution, as well as to the study of emergent properties in multi-layered systems in general.
Abstract: This is an introduction to the special issue titled “Networks of networks” that is in the making at Chaos, Solitons & Fractals. Recent research and reviews attest to the fact that networks of networks are the next frontier in network science [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] . Not only are interactions limited and thus inadequately described by well-mixed models, it is also a fact that the networks that should be an integral part of such models are often interconnected, thus making the processes that are unfolding on them interdependent. From the World economy and transportation systems to social media, it is clear that processes taking place in one network might significantly affect what is happening in many other networks. Within an interdependent system, each type of interaction has a certain relevance and meaning, so that treating all the links identically inevitably leads to information loss. Networks of networks, interdependent networks, or multilayer networks are therefore a much better and realistic description of such systems, and this Special Issue is devoted to their structure, dynamics and evolution, as well as to the study of emergent properties in multi-layered systems in general. Topics of interest include but are not limited to the spread of epidemics and information, percolation, diffusion, synchronization, collective behavior, and evolutionary games on networks of networks. Interdisciplinary work on all aspects of networks of networks, regardless of background and motivation, is very welcome.

126 citations

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Journal Article•DOI•
The Tragedy of the Commons

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Garrett Hardin1•
University of California, Santa Barbara1
13 Dec 1968-Science
TL;DR: The population problem has no technical solution; it requires a fundamental extension in morality.
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Journal Article•DOI•
Crime and Punishment: An Economic Approach

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Gary S. Becker
01 Mar 1968-Journal of Political Economy
TL;DR: In fact, some common properties are shared by practically all legislation, and these properties form the subject matter of this essay as discussed by the authors, which is the basis for this essay. But, in spite of such diversity, some commonsense properties are not shared.
Abstract: Since the turn of the twentieth century, legislation in Western countries has expanded rapidly to reverse the brief dominance of laissez faire during the nineteenth century. The state no longer merely protects against violations of person and property through murder, rape, or burglary but also restricts ‘discrimination’ against certain minorities, collusive business arrangements, ‘jaywalking’, travel, the materials used in construction, and thousands of other activities. The activities restricted not only are numerous but also range widely, affecting persons in very different pursuits and of diverse social backgrounds, education levels, ages, races, etc. Moreover, the likelihood that an offender will be discovered and convicted and the nature and extent of punishments differ greatly from person to person and activity to activity. Yet, in spite of such diversity, some common properties are shared by practically all legislation, and these properties form the subject matter of this essay.

9,613 citations

Related Papers (5)
Statistical physics of social dynamics

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11 May 2009-Reviews of Modern Physics
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Coevolutionary games--a mini review.

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01 Feb 2010-BioSystems
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Frequently Asked Questions (1)
Q1. What are the contributions in "The role of mathematical modelling in modern criminology.comment on “statistical physics of crime: a review” by m.r. d'orsogna and m. perc" ?

Starting from the seminal paper by G. Becker [ 3 ], the study of crime and criminality from the point of view of economics has been developed in several directions. Thus, the paper [ 6 ] appears to be extremely timely and useful. Therefore, modelling the diffusion of criminal ( or simply unlawful ) behaviour in urban areas can be a tool that administrations and police authorities can use in order to choose optimal strategies to combat crime. This description can in turn suggest how to contrast the phenomena.