In my criminology class we have to write a response to two papers arguing whether or not crime is "functional" or not. Emile Durkheim, a sociologist from the 1920s argues that crime is functional because it presses the morals of society, and allows for a sense of unity among law abiding citizens. I agree with this paradigm to a point, but can crime be ALWAYS be functional? I think not. Durkheim may be right in certain cases like with Rosa Parks, and others who pressed for equal rights, but how can crimes like those commited by Ted Bundy, Joel Rifkin, Edward Gein, Bernard Madoff, and those involved with the Enron scandal be even thought of as Functional?
I remember watching a documentary on the discovery channel which explored the parts o fthe brain that are involved with crime and deviance, and it claimed that there is indeed a part of the brain that involved with rationalizing criminal behavior. The Amygdala, the part of the brain that deals with emotions and fear, is actually smaller in criminals meaning that criminals have a harder time relating to how people feel as a result of their actions. In this expose, they interviewed Joel Rifkin and asked him what was going through his mind when he was murdering those women, and he said that he was simply focused in the now. This shows that the Amygdala and the cerebrum, the part of the brain that thinks rationally, were not communicating as well as it should and the cranial check against the amygdala didn't work to prevent Rifkin's actions.
In other white collar criminals such as those involved in the Enron Scandal the amygdala communicates normally with the cerebrum, it is just smaller and inhibits the way that the perpetrators feel fear and emotion. This enables these criminals to embezzle away people's retirements without the thought of what this will do to people's lives.
In summary, No I don't think that crime is ALWAYS functional, but that isn't what I'm supposed to write about so that is why I am writing this here. By the way don't quote me because I'm not sure if I got the physiology of the brain right...
Adopted
14 years ago
Whoops, I lost my original post again. When I first started reading this I was waiting for a turn during our board game but thought I better wait until it was quiet. Quite a professorial post here :)
ReplyDeleteI don't like either argument. Crime is sin and their isn't good in choosing bad. Of course people do rise above and come together but imagine if there were no crime...we would be living with many more benefits.
The physiological argument is a little whacky. I'm sure criminals would love to have this proven - then it wouldn't be their fault at all. If someone turns away from Good and chooses bad then they are under the influence of evil. It is their free choice, not caused by their small amythingie.
On a lighter note, congratulations on Senor Banditos bday!
No matter how small any part of the brain, I think we were all given free will. From a sociologist point of view, it is how family, friends and village influence one that kicks the free will into the right choice. It would be interesting to hear what an orthodox Catholic Biology teacher would have to say about this?
ReplyDeleteWhat a bunch of sociological mumbo jumbo! What difference does it make if crime is "Functional"? Breaking the law, such as what Rosa Parks did is different than someone committing a crime. It is good that college makes you think, but will the professor allow your personal belief system to guide your answer to the paper? I hope so.
ReplyDeleteAs for the brain thingy, I wonder what is too small in my brain that makes me eat too much? It has to be something in my brain because surely it is not me shoving that cookie in my mouth!
Crime is an interesting thing that changes over time. What Rosa Parks did may not be a crime now, but it was then- not to say that she actually did anything wrong.
ReplyDeleteAnyway people do have free, will that is why Darwinism is such a weak theory (Watch EXPELLED) That is also why Classical Criminology has so much merit. All this brain mumbo jumbo is an attempt to explain why people might have a physiological inclination to commit crime...
Thanks for all of your thoughts guys!!!