Examine the impact of one’s local environment on behavior. Considering what is presented in the readings, answer the following questions:
What impact does an individual’s environment and/or genetics have on the individual’s ability to make a free choice not to commit criminal acts? Support your response with research.
What five environmental stressors most impact crime in a community and those who inhabit it? Why?
How can local leaders address the stressors you identified?
What environmental factor do you think has the greatest impact on the differences in behavior among youth sharing the same social group, age, and neighborhood?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Solution
There is a growing body of research that suggests that both environmental factors and genetics play a role in criminal behavior. Some of the environmental factors that have been linked to criminal behavior include:
Sample Solution
There is a growing body of research that suggests that both environmental factors and genetics play a role in criminal behavior. Some of the environmental factors that have been linked to criminal behavior include:
Impact of environment and genetics on criminal behavior
There is a growing body of research that suggests that both environmental factors and genetics play a role in criminal behavior. Some of the environmental factors that have been linked to criminal behavior include:
- Poverty: People who live in poverty are more likely to commit crimes. This is likely due to a number of factors, including lack of opportunity, exposure to violence, and poor parenting.
- Exposure to violence: Children who are exposed to violence, either in their homes or in their communities, are more likely to commit crimes themselves. This is because they learn that violence is a way to solve problems.
- Poor parenting: Children who are raised in homes where there is little parental supervision or support are more likely to commit crimes. This is because they lack the skills and resources they need to make good choices.
Genetics also play a role in criminal behavior. Studies have shown that certain genes are associated with increased risk of criminal behavior. However, it is important to note that genes do not determine behavior. They simply increase the risk of someone committing a crime.
Five environmental stressors that impact crime
The five environmental stressors that most impact crime in a community and those who inhabit it are:
- Poverty: As mentioned above, poverty is a major risk factor for crime. People who live in poverty are more likely to be unemployed, have less education, and live in dangerous neighborhoods. All of these factors can contribute to criminal behavior.
- Lack of opportunity: People who lack opportunities for education, employment, and housing are more likely to turn to crime. This is because they feel that they have no other way to achieve their goals.
- Exposure to violence: As mentioned above, children who are exposed to violence are more likely to commit crimes themselves. This is because they learn that violence is a way to solve problems.
- Poor parenting: Children who are raised in homes where there is little parental supervision or support are more likely to commit crimes. This is because they lack the skills and resources they need to make good choices.
- Community disorganization: Communities that are disorganized and have high levels of crime are more likely to produce criminals. This is because there is less social control in these communities, and people are more likely to be influenced by deviant peers.
How local leaders can address environmental stressors
There are a number of ways that local leaders can address environmental stressors that impact crime. These include:
- Investing in education and job training: This can help to create opportunities for people who are struggling economically.
- Providing affordable housing: This can help to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life in communities.
- Promoting violence prevention programs: These programs can help to reduce exposure to violence and teach children and adults how to resolve conflict peacefully.
- Strengthening families: This can help to provide children with the support they need to make good choices.
- Working to improve community cohesion: This can help to reduce crime by creating a sense of belonging and shared values in communities.
Environmental factor with the greatest impact on differences in behavior among youth
The environmental factor that has the greatest impact on the differences in behavior among youth is likely exposure to violence. Children who are exposed to violence are more likely to develop aggressive behavior patterns. They are also more likely to be desensitized to violence, which can make them more likely to commit violent acts themselves.
In addition to exposure to violence, other environmental factors that can contribute to differences in behavior among youth include:
- Parenting: The quality of parenting can have a significant impact on a child’s behavior. Children who are raised in homes with supportive and consistent parenting are more likely to develop prosocial behavior patterns.
- Peers: The influence of peers can also be significant. Children who are surrounded by peers who engage in delinquent or criminal behavior are more likely to do the same.
- School: The school environment can also play a role in shaping a child’s behavior. Children who attend schools with high levels of violence or who feel like they do not belong are more likely to engage in problem behaviors.
It is important to note that these are just some of the environmental factors that can impact behavior. The specific factors that will have the greatest impact on a particular individual will vary depending on their unique circumstances.
