Which statement best captures the core idea of collective efficacy?

Which statement best captures the core idea of collective efficacy?

• A. Residents' trust and monitoring of youth
• B. Access to resources
• C. Wealth and property values
• D. Official policing presence

Answer: (A)

Collective efficacy is about how closely neighbors are connected and whether they are willing to act together to supervise the community, especially youth, and keep an eye on what’s happening in their shared spaces. The best statement captures this by highlighting residents’ trust in one another and their collective monitoring or informal social control to prevent trouble. It emphasizes social fabric and mutual responsibility rather than just material conditions or formal enforcement. Access to resources, wealth and property values, and official policing presence describe other aspects of a neighborhood but do not name the core idea of people knowing and looking out for each other and stepping in when needed. Even a resource-rich area or one with police presence can have low collective efficacy if neighbors don’t trust each other or feel responsible for one another’s well-being; conversely, strong social bonds and willingness to intervene can exist across different economic contexts.

Collective efficacy is about how closely neighbors are connected and whether they are willing to act together to supervise the community, especially youth, and keep an eye on what’s happening in their shared spaces. The best statement captures this by highlighting residents’ trust in one another and their collective monitoring or informal social control to prevent trouble. It emphasizes social fabric and mutual responsibility rather than just material conditions or formal enforcement.

Access to resources, wealth and property values, and official policing presence describe other aspects of a neighborhood but do not name the core idea of people knowing and looking out for each other and stepping in when needed. Even a resource-rich area or one with police presence can have low collective efficacy if neighbors don’t trust each other or feel responsible for one another’s well-being; conversely, strong social bonds and willingness to intervene can exist across different economic contexts.