Growing incidents of violent sexual crimes, reported almost every alternate day, have compelled society to look for its root cause and also the means to control it. Not only parents are worried about the recent rise in sexual crime, sociologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, but teachers of educational institutions are also discussing the issue seriously.
A large number of people blatantly blame the young generation for this deviant behaviour. Lack of patience and arrogance can be observed regularly. The blame has shifted from the youth to uncontrolled exposure to crime stories on the internet and circulated through social media.
The disintegration of the joint family system and degradation of social and moral values are considered major reasons for this deviant behaviour of the youth. Discussion on the issue also directs the needle toward the lack of deterrence of the existing law and judicial procedure.
Noted psychiatrist Dr. Nikhil Pande says that stimulus for committing such violent crimes is provided by stories on television programmes and through the internet. Violent video games add to it. The crime or criminal mentality already exists in the brain. This attitude is controlled by society, the environment in which such a person is living and education (institutional and moral). The stimulus received from various sources acts as a key for committing the crime.
Dr. Nandkishor Bhagat, Executive Committee member of the Indian Society of Criminologists, Chennai and a teacher in Criminology and Correctional Administration is of the view that human behaviour in the present era is changing like fashion. The stability in life due to values inculcated as a child has faded. Dr Bhagat also refers to the degeneration of value systems in the family and society as a major reason for the blatant violation of social, moral and legal rules. Corruption in investigating agencies, judiciary and even in prison has diluted the deterrence of law.
Relaxation in social and moral rules on physical relations also leads to sexual exploitation. The exploitation results in the brutal crime. Aggressive behaviour supported by stimulating factors results in heinous crimes, reported widely in the recent past.
Former Principal of a Social Work College Dr. K T Mele also speaks about degrading social and moral values and the disintegration of family institution. The agencies of social control, as described in psychology, have weakened. Education, which should groom the child as a responsible citizen has miserably failed in its motto. It is unfortunate that a separate subject of Moral Science is required to be introduced in the school curriculum.
Dr. Milind Apte, Psycho-therapist says that the type of violent crime reported recently is a kind of perversion. After committing a sexual crime, the victim is killed, the body cut into pieces, kept in the refrigerator and then disposed off, are perfect examples of a pervert mind. Dr. Apte also refers to the internet for the pervert mind daring to act in such a manner. In many cases, the motive behind the crime cannot be properly explained. As described in Abnormal Psychology, in cases of serial killers, the exact motive behind the act is never found. It is related to a deeper study in Neural Clinical Psychiatry.
For a common person, the issue boils down to the grooming of a child in the present society. In the name of ‘Liberal Society’ can we compromise with the values or unwritten rules of social living? is a million-dollar question confronting society today? It is difficult to come to any specific conclusion or solution to the problem. However, the discussion at various forums must continue to awaken society.
