The following TED Talk gives us a lesson on how improving the appearance of an environment can influence quality of life.  I myself have noticed that graffiti tends to be only on badly-kept or abandoned properties, even to the point where an old railroad embankment where murals had been painted had the artwork surrounded — but untouched by — graffiti.

This also gives us hints about shaping our society without force or other coercion.  “Perception is reality” is often a phrase used in politics, and we humans live and breath in a truly subjective world.

We may as well use it for good.