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Crime on the Rise: Can Psychology Help?

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Introduction

Crime is an expensive aspect of society and sucks a significant amount of public funds. Consistently government spends money on courts, police, probation services, and prisons. The worst part of it is the human costs that include pain, fear, and loss of life. As it pertains to the recent scenes of violent crimes that occurred in our Beautiful by Nature, Turks & Caicos Islands, I am optimistic that authorities are doing their very best to curb brutal crimes and my mind goes thus far as to assume that the established authorities are gathering every piece of intelligence to eradicate or at the very least decrease crime in our community. One thing I pray is that criminal psychology, which is an essential piece of the puzzle not overlooked.

Public perception of crimes

When violent crimes occur in any society, the tendency is set to blame people who may perceive to be accountable. For example, governments blame law enforcement for not doing enough. In reaction, law enforcement blames the government for not providing enough resources. The church blames the parents for not playing their parental roles in the household. In turn, the parents blame the church for not shepherding the congregants, especially the young people to keep moral and spiritual standards; the school system does not spare from that chain of critics. Then, society blames the criminals and those who supply firearms and ammunition.

In reality, who is to blame?

I believe we should come to a consensus that we must better understand the criminal mindset and work on it collectively since the blame does not help too much in solving crimes. Contrary to public opinion, firearms as dangerous as they can be, trigger the temptation to exercise a greater force that facilitates murders at a faster pace. But in reality, the mindset determines the course of action. This depicts the idea that if the firearms are taken away from the criminals when nothing is done to reprogram the mindset, criminals will use any other means to commit the intended crime. In his famous book Tao Te Ching (the way of Life), Lao Tsu stated, “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”

Literature review

In a criminal psychology class, a professor made a statement that shocked the students, particularly an Islander man like me who at that time had mere knowledge of crimes. He quoted (Durkheim, 1895) “as arguing that crime is an inevitable and normal aspect of social life. He pointed out that crime is inevitable in all societies, and that the crime rate was in fact higher in more advanced, industrial societies.” Thus, understanding criminology theories are key to determining why people turn to crime, and it is a step toward reducing crime rates and making society safer.

Takeaways from the Premier’s press conference

The minister of Education divulged the findings from the unfortunate incident of violent crime in Five Cays. She believes this phenomenon emanates from the social ill, including children raised in dysfunctional homes or uncaring families. Suppose the reliability and validity of data are proven. In that case, there are significant reasons to believe that we are not facing just a scene of random crimes, but a societal problem that needs to be addressed at the highest cleverness level. I believe psychologists, sociologists, and other critical thinkers have some answers.

After decades of research on criminal minds, irrefutable evidence suggests three major psychological theories that speak to this phenomenon: psychodynamic, behavioral, and cognitive. The psychodynamic theory focuses on a person’s early childhood experience and how it influences the likelihood of committing crimes. The behavioral approach emphasizes how the perception of the world influences behavior. And cognitive theory focuses on how people manifest their perceptions can lead to a life of crime.

In conclusion, while these psychological terms and theories will be developed in the next episode, let us all admit that crime is a deterrent to the socio-economic development of our community, and the “fierce urgency of now” is to uplift conversations about crime from the traditional level to the highest standard of collective and individual intelligence and knowledge. We are all concerned and must engage in the fight with clever approaches.

 

Alces Dor

Psychologist

Bahamas News

Monument Supports Hands for Hunger With Paradise Plates Debut  

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NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ leading wine and spirits distributor, proudly supported Paradise Plates, Hands for Hunger annual fundraiser with a flavorful offering of its newest product, Monument Beverage Co.

Monument, which launched this July and is available across six major islands, made its Paradise Plates debut. Guests enjoyed three bold flavors: Peach Passion, Ginger-Lime and Melon Fizz as they socialized throughout the evening.

Monument brand ambassadors engaged guests with knowledge on the ready-to-drink beverage’s unique taste and look. Many attendees were delighted to learn that Monument is 100% Bahamian-made and owned and enjoyed seeing the various national landmarks on the packaging.

The booth was adorned with vibrant brand colors, striped arches, tropical florals and a photo worthy backdrop featuring Monument cans filled with florals cascading down the wall.

At the end of the event, the entire Monument inventory had finished, making Monument’s Paradise Plates debut a huge success.

For more details on Caribbean Wines & Spirits, new products and specials, visit www.cwsbahamas.com today.

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Bahamas News

Schweppes ‘the Art of Mixology’ Dazzles at Paradise Plates with Nemiroff Vodka

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NASSAU, Bahamas — Schweppes, in collaboration with Nemiroff Vodka dazzled guests with handcrafted cocktails during Paradise Plates, Hands for Hunger’s annual fundraiser held at Atlantis’ Imperial Ballroom.

The evenings’ theme, 70’s: Paradise Disco, inspired bold and delicious sips from Schweppes and Nemiroff.  The beautiful disco themed Schweppes booth, adorned with LED signs, lush greenery and hanging black and gold metallic orbs shined throughout the room.

Schweppes’ brand representatives and mixologists dressed in chic 70’s speakeasy attire engaged attendees throughout the night. Guests enjoyed receiving knowledge of each product and experiencing the vibrant energy of brand representatives.

Nemiroff Vodka, which is locally distributed by Caribbean Wines and Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ premier wines and spirits distributor; offered a unique variety of vodkas which made the perfect blend with Schweppes. Guests enjoyed, Nemiroff’s Honey Pepper, De Luxe, Burning Pear, Wild Cranberry, and Bold Orange vodkas throughout the night.

Fan favorite cocktails of the night were: the Wild Cranberry Tonic and the Bold Orange Fizz.

Following a positive response at Paradise Plates, CWS is offering Nemiroff and Schweppes specials at local liquor stores for the entire month. With the purchase of any 1-liter Nemiroff vodka, enjoy a complimentary three-pack of Schweppes mixers, to recreate the magic of Schweppes and Nemiroff.

Cara Douglas-Adderley, Senior Marketing Director for Caribbean Bottling (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products and CWS shared the inspiration behind the Schweppes and Nemiroff promotion.

“We are thrilled to have paired Schweppes and Nemiroff for Paradise Plates this year, creating a premium cocktail experience for guests. After receiving such positive feedback, we wanted to extend that experience to consumers at home. Throughout October, consumers can visit their favorite watering hole, buy any 1-liter Nemiroff bottle and receive a free three-pack of Schweppes.”

Caribbean Bottling Company is proud to offer Schweppes, Coca-Cola’s premier mixer in collaboration with Caribbean Wines & Spirits and Nemiroff Vodka at Paradise Plates in support of Hands for Hunger’s mission.

For more information on CBC’s philanthropic work, new products and specials, visits www.cbcbahamas.com today.

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Beaches Turks & Caicos gives Enid Capron Primary a pre-term facelift

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PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks and Caicos has refreshed the grounds of Enid Capron Primary School in Five Cays, Providenciales, ahead of the new school year, with a landscaping team from the resort, pruning and cutting back overgrown branches to give the campus a cleaner, safer look.

The project focused on the school’s exterior plantings, where tangled growth had begun to encroach on walkways and outdoor learning areas. The team spent time trimming hedges, thinning dense shrubs and removing deadwood to improve sightlines and airflow around the buildings.

Assistant Landscaping Manager, Kemar Jones said the work at Enid Capron is a regular priority for the department, which views community giving as a core part of its mandate. He noted that supporting local schools, particularly through hands-on environmental work, has long been a focus area for his team.

Jones, said the effort reflects the group’s wider commitment to the islands. “As a team, our goal is to give back to our communities and especially providing support for the environment and education,” Jones noted. “The team is always ready to share our skills with making the school environment more comfortable for our students and teachers.”

General Manager Deryk Meany framed the project as part of Beaches’ broader approach to working alongside the community beyond the resort gates. “At Beaches Turks and Caicos, we operate as a team not only within the confines of the resort but also with our communities,” Meany added. “Being able to share our varied skills is always our main focus. Providing a comfortable learning environment allows for a greater relationship with our educational collaborators.”

He added that the resort seeks opportunities to support range of school-based initiatives, from environmental and leadership clubs to creative programmes.

Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture Hon. Rachel Taylor described the landscaping mission as a continuation of a long-standing relationship between the Ministry and Beaches Turks and Caicos. “This mission from our major private sector supporter, Beaches Turks and Caicos is a long standing activity,” Taylor said. “At Enid Capron Primary School, we are treated as family. Once we reach out to the resort, they have always responded in a positive way.”

Hon. Taylor said the support is particularly valuable in the areas of education and community development, where consistent private-sector engagement can amplify government efforts.

Nelene Swann, vice principal at Enid Capron Primary welcomed the refreshed grounds as a boost to morale before classes resume. “This is what true collaboration looks like,” she noted. “This is more than a facelift for the school. The team from Beaches Turks and Caicos has shown true commitment in adding to this learning environment for our students and teachers.”

She said the improved landscaping contributes to a more comfortable and inviting campus for all stakeholders. “This is a good way to start the new school year. This facelift will certainly make the facilities here at the school more appealing to our students, teachers and parents.

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