NCJ Number
53908
Journal
Humanist Volume: 38 Issue: 5 Dated: (SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1978) Pages: 12-15
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE POSSIBILITY THAT CRIME RESULTS FROM CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS' FAILURE TO LEARN TO BE LAW ABIDING RATHER THAN FROM THE CORRUPTION OF THEIR NATURAL GOODNESS BY EVIL INFLUENCES IS EXPLORED.
Abstract
THE PREVALENT BELIEF REGARDING THE GENESIS OF CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES APPEARS TO BE THAT INNATELY GOOD, KIND, HONEST INDIVIDUALS ARE TEMPTED AND ULTIMATELY CORRUPTED BY 'CASUAL FACTORS,' GENERALLY HELD TO BE PSYCHOSOCIAL IN NATURE. THE FAILURE TO REDUCE CRIME MAY BE AN INDICATION THAT THIS BASIC ASSUMPTION IS WRONG. IT MAY BE THAT PEOPLE DO NOT LEARN TO BE CRIMINAL, BUT THAT THEY LEARN OR FAIL TO LEARN TO BE LAW ABIDING. THE IDEA OF A BORN CRIMINAL MUST BE REJECTED FOR TWO REASONS. A PERSON IS NOT A CRIMINAL FOR WHAT HE OR SHE IS, THINKS, OR FEELS, BUT RATHER FOR WHAT HE OR SHE DOES. CRIMINAL INTENTION WITHOUT ACTION IS NOT A CRIME. SECONDLY, THERE IS A LACK OF ACCEPTABLE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE TO SUSTAIN THE THEORY OF INHERITED CRIMINALITY. AT THE SAME TIME, THE IDEA OF A GOOD PERSON MADE BAD IS ALSO UNSUPPORTED BY AVAILABLE EVIDENCE. THE CASE OF THE YOUNG DELINQUENT WHO BECOMES AN ADULT CRIMINAL IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A PERSON WHO WAS NEVER GOOD AND WHO NEVER CHANGED. ALSO RELEVANT ARE THE DATA INDICATING THE APPARENT DECLINE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY WITH INCREASED MATURITY AND RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS CONTENDED THAT AT BIRTH THE INDIVIDUAL IS NEITHER GOOD NOR BAD, BUT THAT CERTAIN SELFISH OR EGOCENTRIC TENDENCIES DO EXIST. SOCIAL LIFE REQUIRES SOME DEGREE OF REGULATION, INCLUDING LAWS NECESSARY FOR COLLECTIVE EXISTENCE. THESE REGULATIONS MUST BE LEARNED AND INTERNALIZED. THE MOTIVATION FOR SELF-CONTROL DERIVES FROM POSITIVE EMOTIONAL BONDS AND A SENSE OF IDENTITY WITH THE CONTROLLING GROUP. IN THIS WAY, THE INDIVIDUAL LEARNS TO BECOME LAW ABIDING. HOWEVER, EVEN NORMALLY LAW-ABIDING PEOPLE MAY ENGAGE IN INFREQUENT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OR MAY CHOOSE TO REJECT THE LAW IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. PART OF THE CAUSE OF THESE DEVIATIONS MAY LIE IN A WEAKENED OR INSUFFICIENTLY DEVELOPED INTEGRATION OR REGULATION, I.E., A FEELING OF REJECTION AND ALIENATION OR AN INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN EXISTING LAWS AND CHANGING NORMS (OR VICE VERSA). INSTEAD OF CONCENTRATING ON THE STUDY OF CRIMINALS, EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO STUDY THE DYNAMICS INVOLVED IN BECOMING LAW ABIDING. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)