Biological Perspective On Honor Killings

“Finally!” Today I went to a school assembly about bullying. The principal said, “If anyone is caught bullying in school, you will be suspended for a week.” I told the principal that we need to make harsher punishments if anyone is bullying. Here are the reasons why there should be harsher punishments for bullying.

In his book “Punishment and Inequality in America” Western discusses the underlying racial disparities that have lead to a mass incarceration in the United States. He states that incarceration rates have increased by a substantial amount. The race and class disparities viewed in impromesment are very large and class disparities have grown by a dramatic amount. In his book he argues that an increase in mass incarceration occured due to a significant increase in crime. The increase in mass incarceration can also be correlated with urban street crime that proliferated as joblessness in inner-city communities increased (Western, 2006). He also states that an increase in incarceration rates may be due to the changes in politics and policy which have intensified criminal punishment even though criminal offending did not increase. Although these are substantial reasons as to why incarceration has increased significantly in the US there are many underlying issues. The incarceration rates amongst young black men have increased the most in the United states, black men are more likely to go to prison than white and Hispanic men (Western, 2006). This may be largely due to factors such as unemployment, family instability, and neighborhood disorder which combine to produce especially high rates of violence among young black men in the United States (Western, 2006). A rise in incarceration rates may also be largely due to to increased drug arrests which represent the racial disparity.

Provide the justifications for punishment in modern society. Punishment functions as a form of social control and is geared towards “imposing some unwanted burden such as fines, probations, imprisonment, or even death” on a convicted person in return for the crimes they committed (Stohr, Walsh, & Hemmens, 2013, p.6). There are four main justifications for punishment and they are: retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, and incapacitation. There is also said to be a fifth justification of reintegration as well.

Over time attitudes have changed in regards to punishment. Essentially punishments that took place in the past centuries are now seen as a violation of the 5th amendment deeming them as inhumane and harsh. Although there are punishments still in effect today one for example is the death penalty. Although public opinion is up for debate on whether or not it should still be allowed it is still an option. A factor that also dictates to how people respond to this method is on the situation that it is used. For instant if they committed murder, society would deem the death penalty as a more acceptable punishment for taking a life of another human being. On the other hand, certain people see all harsh punishments like the death penalty morally

The logic behind tougher sentencing is the longer you lock up people, the more enhanced public safety is. This put offenders in prison for years to keep them re-offending incapacitating them. Tougher sentencing is not an effective way of reducing crime because it incriminates people who commit nonviolent crimes for long periods of times, gives inadequate care for inmates with a mental illness, and it gives inmates time to learn new and effective ways to commit crimes.

In my opinion, I feel that it is up to the individuals themselves and the need pursued for effective improvements in their life. Therefore, regardless of the threat of punishment or individual acceptance, the individuals should be on board with treatment or the effectiveness will be ineffective which will increase the rates of recidivism.

Thus, the fact that men are more aggressive and stronger than women can be explained through intrasexual competition (between males). Men have inherited these skills from our evolutionary ancestors, because, in general, in the living world, gaining a higher hierarchical status, resources, protecting the family and obtaining competitive advantages in conquering women involves increased physical contest and increased aggressiveness. Hawley believed that aggression shown by both sexes can serve as a social plus when it comes to high status and appeal

Evolutionary history effects more than just genetic behaviour level. It also effects how society socializes its members. Males –despite having the innate behaviors and perspectives on relationships— experience socialization that, in essence, reinforces gender differences in perspectives and behavior. From early childhood up until adulthood, the individual is bombarded with a plethora of advertisments that portray males as more aggressive (Henslin p. 78). In television male newscasters turn female athletes into sexual objects (78). And socialization is not limited to the media. It begins in the home –within the family. In an experiment performed by Goldberg and Lewis, Mothers were more less likely to keep their boys

Throughout time, the use of punishment has changed drastically. Not only has the actual infliction of punishment changed, the reasoning behind this punishment has also changed. There have been numerous scholars, educators, and researchers that have presented various theories on the reasoning behind societal punishment. Some of these theories are closely similar, however some are drastically different. It is important to note that these theorists have broad perceptions that can be rooted back to specific time periods throughout history. Societal punishment is defined as, “punishment being a complex social institution, shaped by the ensemble of social and historical forces and having a range of effects that reach well beyond the population of offenders” (Garland, 1991).

Punishment is defined as “the infliction or imposition of a penalty as retribution for an offense” (“Punishment”). Some prominent theories of punishment include retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, and the moral education theory. Although retribution, deterrence, and rehabilitation are all crucial components of punishment justification, independently the theories have weaknesses that avert the moral rationalization of punishment. I believe that Jean Hampton’s moral education theory is the best justification for punishment because it yields the most sympathetic and prudent reasons for punishment, while simultaneously showing that punishment cannot be justified by solely

The consensus theory agrees that individuals within a society agree on basic values, that is what is right and wrong and laws help express these values. Punishment is seen as a way to preserve shared values of the society, The consensus theory reinforces that authorities are in control, that crime is an aberration, and restore and solidify the social order. The conflict theory states that laws are placed to keep the dominant or upper class in power of the lower class. It believes that crime takes place in places where there are little morals and values.

Part of the evolutionary explanation is Trivers’ parental investment theory which argues that the origin of behavioural differences between men and women lies in the different ways of achieving reproductive success. Trivers

The first few chapters discuss in depth both the general rules for mate selection and the differences in mate selection and varying preferences for male and female genders. As explained in the intro the author theorizes that the current behavior of humans in relation to mating behavior can be linked to our evolutionary past. He references Charles Darwin 's theory of evolution and his idea of natural selection, which is the the process through which organisms adapt to their environment and in doing so tend to

Theories of why we punish offenders are crucial to the understanding of criminal law; in fact it is not easy to define legal punishment, however one thing is clear within the different theories of punishment is that they all require justification.[1] There are many theories of punishment yet they are predominantly broken down into two main categories. The utilitarian theory seeks to punish offenders to discourage, or “deter,” future wrong doing. The retributive theory seeks to punish offenders because they deserve to be punished due to their behaviour upsetting the balance of society[2].

According to a study undertaken by Lewis and Brown (2004), men have an innate preference to be in a relationship with women who are less dominant and conform more to traditional gender roles. This is believed to stem from early human history, where men wished to ensure their genes were carried forward to the next generation. One way to ensure this would have been to find a woman who is less dominant and therefore easier to have influence over. The female offspring from such a union would also have a better chance of ensuring submissive women for future generations (Lewis & Brown, 2004).