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1.5.10.5 Negative BehavioursVersion 1.0 October 2022                            (Previous Version) Here we discuss Responsibility in a social context, focusing on harm reduction rather than promoting well-being.  Later subsections clarify how traditional concepts such as Justice apply in this context, what Responsibility means for promoting well-being and what it means for ourselves as individuals. In this subsection: ●  The goal of the intervention is to reduce the frequency and severity of behaviour that causes harm or suffering, which at the severe end of the spectrum we call criminal behaviour, and at the other end causes only minor harm, when there is no thought of an appeal to some authority to address the issue, which we might call rude, disruptive, dishonest, unkind or the like, or what the politically cautious call (gloriously ambiguously and inaccurately) inappropriate.  ●  The target of the intervention is the offender (specifically NOT ourselves, as discussed in 1.5.10.8). ●  The intervening in the serious cases is typically done by government agencies (such as the police). For lesser offences another organization whose authority is accepted by those affected (such as a church – for transgressions by its members, or an employer – for work related offences by employees, or a club – eg a sports club – for club related offences). The remaining cases don't involve any such organization but interventions can be initiated by those impacted or nearby, ie by individuals, ordinary members of society, which we can call personal interventions. All negative behaviours can be reduced by a general set of interventions that begin prior to birth. We look here at the ultimate drivers of bad behaviour, because if we can determine the causes we can address them, to hopefully minimize them in an evidence based way, rather than a moralistic way. We do this under the following headings:
We summarise our conclusions in this area as follows: 1.5.10.5 We know that a lot of offending comes from             fear, desperation, stupidity, ignorance, thoughtlessness or insanity;                   and the appropriate responses often are             empowerment, equity, guidance, education, self-control and medical aid.             So the interventions to minimize such offending involves social justice, and services such as welfare, health care, education and counselling.             Other drivers of offending are more upsetting, including anger, disgust, selfishness, status and viciousness. We should still try positive interventions in these cases but also use penalties as a consequence to minimize overall harm.             Political and religious violence must be treated as criminal activity, but we can also do better to minimize religious and political discrimination, promote equality, improved education to promote tolerance and minimize victimhood.
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