Materialism causing rise in criminal behaviour: Experts

Dr GK Goswami Director UPSIFS

In wake of the recent cases of violence in the city criminologists and criminal psychologists argue that contemporary society's materialism, weakens self and social control, leading to a psychological condition known as ‘Grandiose Behaviour.' This evolves into a ‘God Complex,' where individuals believe they are superior and can act without consequences.

Adverse impact on society

Dr Arvind Tiwari, professor and dean, School of Law, Rights and Constitutional Governance, Tata Institute of Social Sciences highlighted the impulsive outbreak of violent aggression, impacting society and causing a sense of insecurity. Factors like frequent shootouts and a lack of fear of the law, contribute to a concerning lawlessness situation.

"The shootout at Chunabhatti, Ulhasnagar firing incident inside a police officer's cabin and the recent Avinash Ghosalkar shoot out case, raise concerns of a situation of lawlessness.

Dr Madhava Soma Sundaram, professor, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University; (right) Dr Tiwari, TISS

‘Goals and Means'

"Secondly, societal changes where in growing materialism and weakening self-control, have contributed towards behavioural change. Also when a person is unable to achieve his/her goals through socially acceptable means they adapt themselves to act out in a deviant manner to meet the desired goal," said Dr Tiwari.

Prison reform

"Overcrowded state prisons hinder classification and diversification of prisoners, leading petty offenders to become habitual and eventually hardcore criminals. The approved criminal laws (BNSS, BSA, and BNS) aim to address this, offering new punishment methods and the potential for prisons to become true reformative centers," explained Dr Tiwari.

3rd-party audit not happening

"Long-standing lack of third-party auditing in prison reformation programs necessitates the implementation of an audit mechanism. The use of psychological measurement scales to assess reformation traits is paramount. Recent security concerns, post-attacks in prisons, hinder genuine researchers' access. The Ministry of Home at the Centre must address this for the larger interest of research academicians and prisoners' welfare, introducing result-oriented strategies to transform inmates into responsible, productive citizens," urged Dr Tiwari.

Blame societal change

"The law addresses the criminal act, but the criminal mindset reflects societal influences and responses. Aggressive conduct stems from childhood isolation and lack of parental care. Society is moving towards aggression-oriented conduct and this shift is to blame. Assailants believe they can escape legal consequences, leading to unacceptable villainous behaviour. Moreover, judicial delays deny justice and fuel criminal recurrence. Addressing ethical issues within families and society is crucial to prevent criminal behaviour. The current punitive focus of our justice system raises concerns," said Dr G K Goswami, Director, Uttar Pradesh State Institute of Forensic Science (UPSIFS).

Stringent audit of firearms

"Easy availability of firearms indicates a demand-supply chain, fuelled by unaccounted funds. The flaws in the arms licensing system contribute to the use of unregistered firearms in criminal acts, emphasising the urgency for police intervention and stringent audit measures," says Dr P Madhava Soma Sundaram, founder Professor, department of criminology and criminal justice at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University.

Grandiose behaviour

"In the recent shoot-out cases, it is evident that the assailants had a feeling of being above the rule of law. They had the feeling that they had power or access to power with money, without realising that they were victims of an abnormal psychological disease called ‘Grandiose Behaviour. This behaviour is characterised by a sense of specialness and self-importance and boasts about real or exaggerated accomplishments. Individuals gradually develop a ‘God Complex', and believe they possess exceptional power over others and can get away doing anything," Dr Madhava concluded.