A recent episode of the Channel 4 documentary Twenty-Four Hours in Police Custody produced a gamut of strong reactions.[1] Some cite factors such as “pure evil”, “Sociopathy” and the like. Others blame what they call “proletarian culture” with its supposed emphasis on “swaggering masculinity” and “instant gratification.” None of the above experts have ever defined what those terms mean.
There are indeed some sociopaths and psychopaths out there. Yet in our experience most people are a bundle of conflicting, competing impulses and thoughts. Some of these include aggression and status anxiety. Others include thought, and even compassion. What made this case in Bedfordshire so interesting[2] was that, for a short while, the aggressive instincts of the two convicted murderers were so strong, and lasted sufficiently long, for them to change five lives. Forever. Catastrophically. An ordinary fist-fight in a pub was suddenly escalated by one set of protagonists into double murder. Why?
There is nothing like the feeling of having something now, with the promise of future reward, to caution the wildest impulses. These somethings can be many: a happy emotional relationship, a family, the possession of property. The last, if tied to a long mortgage with the promise of a big pay-out at the end forms a prominent part of the mental architecture of millions. Its presence has dampened the ardour for many a conflict-or sexual adventure. The trouble with Britain since 2010 is that home ownership has gone into steep decline. Mortgages are harder and harder to come by. Where people live with less stake in society, is any surprise they look to other sources for pride? Like their place in the hierarchy? How much “respect” they can obtain(by which they mean fear-for them, the two terms are synonymous) None of this excuses the actions of the murderers in Bedfordshire. But in a fairer society, might such escalations be a bit less common?
[1]https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-67897484
[2]https://www.channel4.com/programmes/24-hours-in-police-custody/on-demand/73855-009
#status anxiety #home ownership #houghton regis bedordshire #inequality #crime #violence #status anxiety
Learning, Science and Society 