Almost nine in ten see coarsening of behaviour as a threat
A poll by HCSS and KiesKompas shows a wide gap between concerns about behaviour and people’s own contribution to it.
Almost nine in ten people in the Netherlands see the coarsening of behaviour as a threat to society. At the same time, they rate their own contribution to the problem much lower, according to a new analysis by HCSS and KiesKompas.
In the poll, the coarsening of behaviour receives an average score of 7.5 out of 10 as a threat to society. Participants rate their own contribution to the problem at an average of 2.6. HCSS describes this difference as a responsibility gap: many people experience an erosion of norms, but place the cause mainly with others.
Respondents mainly see the coarsening of behaviour as a normative and cultural problem. Disrespectful behaviour and failure to follow rules are widely regarded as worrying. Researchers identify declining trust, waning authority and the erosion of social norms as key consequences.
Social media are most often identified as a cause in the poll. At the same time, they are not seen as an important place to solve the problem. According to HCSS, this points to a difference between where people locate the source of the problem and where they expect improvement to be possible.
The researchers also identify differences between generations and political groups. Younger participants place relatively greater emphasis on a lack of respect for one another and for each other’s identity. Older participants more often mention waning authority and the influence of other cultures. Right-wing voters more often point to migrant communities as a cause, according to HCSS.
The analysis does not advocate stricter enforcement alone. HCSS sees more value in a combination of authority, the transmission of norms and social cohesion. Participants name parents, education and politics as important parties in tackling the problem; municipalities receive additional attention because of their role in building local communities. At the same time, the researchers warn that the data are not a direct measure of actual crime or insecurity.
The results must also be read in their research context. According to HCSS, the analyses were completed in May 2026, while the report was published on 24 September. The poll shows how people assess the issue, but does not prove that the coarsening of behaviour has objectively increased.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- HCSS and KiesKompas examined views on the coarsening of behaviour.
- Participants rate the coarsening of behaviour as a major societal threat, but their own contribution as relatively small.
- The researchers advocate more than stricter enforcement alone.
Left
Arguments The coarsening of behaviour is primarily a consequence of social inequality, declining trust and the feeling that rules do not work the same way for everyone. The solution lies in strong public services, good education and investment in social cohesion, alongside enforcement.
Values Equality, solidarity and inclusion.
Consequences A social approach can address the causes of eroding norms, but requires long-term investment and does not always produce visible results quickly.
Centre
Arguments Norms must be clear and apply to everyone. Enforcement, parenting, education and local community work complement one another; no single measure can solve the problem alone.
Values Balance, practicality and trust in institutions.
Consequences A combined policy prevents one-sided solutions, but may be less straightforward to explain and measure.
Right
Arguments A society cannot function without authority, clear boundaries and consistent sanctions. Anyone who breaks rules or intimidates others must quickly realise that behaviour has consequences; integration and shared norms deserve emphasis.
Values Order, responsibility and social cohesion.
Consequences Stricter enforcement can make the norm more visible, but without a social approach it may increase distrust between groups.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The key figures, group differences and research limitations are taken directly from HCSS in the article’s own words. The text avoids the unfounded conclusion that actual coarsening of behaviour or crime has demonstrably increased.
- confirmed Almost nine in ten people in the Netherlands see the coarsening of behaviour as a threat to society. — This appears in HCSS’s summary. source
- confirmed The threat receives an average score of 7.5 and people’s own contribution an average of 2.6. — HCSS cites both averages on a scale of 10. source
- confirmed Social media are most often identified as a cause. — This appears in HCSS’s research description. source
- confirmed The analyses were completed in May 2026. — HCSS explicitly mentions this as a limitation regarding how current the findings are. source
Editor's note
The figures come from an HCSS analysis based on a poll conducted with KiesKompas. The source measures views on the coarsening of behaviour, not an actual development in crime or liveability.Sources
- HCSS Focus | Verhuftering — The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „verhuftering samenleving”
- NOS — „verhuftering samenleving”
- Het Parool — „verhuftering samenleving”