The Danger of ‘Collective illusions’ About Crime
Is it possible to have an honest discussion about solutions to crime without discussing whether criminals are in fact responsible for the crimes they commit? Two criminologists argue the discussion is too often evaded.
Landwebs
Take a look at the two well-circulated graphs below.
If you agree with them, you are in alignment not just with the law, but with contemporary mores that stipulate the sole cause of rape and domestic violence is the individual perpetrator.
It is not caused by the victim. It is not caused by society. It is caused by a criminal.
CAUSES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Now look at the third and fourth graphs below. When the subject turns to crime in general, some people see Figure 3 as accurate. They search for explanations to help criminals shed the blame.
CAUSES OF CRIME
But the fourth graph is really the one that is consistent with the first two.
CAUSES OF CRIME
However, when the subject is crime in general, we are far more likely to search for explanations to help criminals shed the blame.
Social scientists are taught early in their training that correlation does not equal causation. So why do we create classes of crime deserving of punishment while others are not?
Daniel Pollack
Beyond mental incapacity, when is a perpetrator wholly responsible (or not) for their actions?
Is it even possible to have an honest discussion about solutions to crime without first discussing whether criminals are in fact responsible for the crimes they commit?
Just as importantly, what makes this such a difficult discussion to have?
Robert Reiser
In his 2022 book, Collective Illusions, Todd Rose refers to beliefs that one holds but fears to express due to the unfounded perceptions that such beliefs are out of step with the majority.
The perception ultimately becomes the reality, since we are not very good at guessing what the majority actually thinks.
The result is that we self-censor.
So, do criminals cause crime? Honestly, yes.
Daniel Pollack, MSW, JD is a professor at Yeshiva University’s School of Social Work in New York. He is reachable at dpollack@yu.edu. Robert Reiser, LMSW, is a clinically trained psychotherapist in New York. He can be reached at rpreiser1@gmail.com.
