A Criminal History of Mankind

1. Criminality: A Childish Tendency to Take Shortcuts

Criminality is not a perverted disposition to do evil rather than good. It is merely a childish tendency to take short-cuts.

Smash and Grab Mentality. All crime, at its core, is an attempt to gain something for nothing, reflecting a lack of patience and a disregard for the effort required to achieve goals legitimately. This "smash and grab" approach is akin to a child's impulsive desire to immediately satisfy their wants, without considering the consequences or the needs of others.

Subjectivity and Lack of Objectivity. Criminals, like children, often struggle to see beyond their own desires and feelings, leading to a subjective worldview where the needs of others are minimized or ignored. This lack of empathy and objectivity fuels the tendency to take shortcuts, as the criminal prioritizes their own immediate gratification above all else.

The Illusion of Happiness. The pursuit of instant gratification through crime ultimately leads to misery, as true happiness stems from glimpses of objectivity and rising above subjective desires. The great tyrants of history, who indulged their feelings without regard for others, often ended up half-insane, demonstrating that over-indulged feelings are the greatest tyrants of all.

2. Maslow's Hierarchy and the Evolution of Crime

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs corresponds roughly to historical periods of crime.

Survival Crimes. Early crimes were primarily driven by the basic need for survival, such as theft for food or resources. Examples include body-snatching to sell corpses for medical research, reflecting a desperate attempt to meet physiological needs.

Security Crimes. As societies progressed and basic needs were met, crimes shifted towards safeguarding security and maintaining a comfortable lifestyle. Domestic murders, often committed within middle-class homes, exemplify this level, as individuals sought to protect their social standing and financial stability.

Esteem Crimes. In more recent times, crimes have increasingly been linked to the desire for self-esteem and recognition. Motiveless murders, committed for the sake of fame or notoriety, reflect a distorted attempt to fulfill higher-level needs in Maslow's hierarchy, highlighting the evolving motivations behind criminal behavior.

3. The Dominance Dynamic in Criminal Partnerships

In many cases of double-murder (that is, partnership in murder), one of the partners is high dominance and the other medium.

High Dominance/Medium Dominance Pairing. Many cases of partnership in crime involve one individual with high dominance traits and another with medium dominance. The high dominance partner often initiates and drives the criminal activity, while the medium dominance partner is drawn in due to their desire for approval or a sense of belonging.

Triggering Violence. The combination of high and medium dominance can be a catalyst for violence, as the high dominance partner pushes the medium dominance partner to commit acts they might not otherwise consider. This dynamic can be observed in cases like the Moors murders, where Ian Brady's high dominance personality exerted a powerful influence over Myra Hindley.

The Dominance Gap. The success and longevity of a criminal partnership often depend on the "dominance gap" between the partners. For a permanent relationship, a man and woman need to be in the same dominance group. This balance ensures that both partners feel valued and understood, preventing one from overpowering or undermining the other.

4. Hypnosis and the Erosion of Reality in Crime

All crime contains this element of ‘hypnosis’.

Abstraction and Subjectivity. Criminal behavior often involves a state of abstraction, where the individual becomes trapped in a subjective world, losing touch with reality and ethical considerations. This "hypnotic" state allows the criminal to rationalize their actions and disregard the consequences for others.

Blocking Out Reality. The "hypnotic" reaction in crime involves blocking out parts of the real world, such as the humanity of the victim, to justify the criminal act. This dissociation enables individuals to commit atrocities while maintaining a sense of normalcy in other aspects of their lives.

Breaking Out of Dissociation. Crime can also be an attempt to break out of this dissociated state, as the act of violence provides a temporary release from the tension and unreality. However, this release is fleeting and ultimately reinforces the criminal's detachment from reality.

5. The Violent Man: Driven by a Manic Need for Self-Esteem

Most violent men are failures.

Manic Need for Self-Esteem. The "violent man," or "Right Man," is driven by an overwhelming need for self-esteem and a fear of "losing face," leading to authoritarian behavior and a refusal to admit wrongdoing. This need for validation often stems from deep-seated feelings of inferiority and a desire to assert their dominance over others.

Idealism and Fantasy. The violent man often lives in a mental world of adolescent fantasy, where women are adoring and submissive, and he is the strong, decisive hero. This idealized view of reality clashes with the complexities of real-life relationships, leading to jealousy, possessiveness, and a need to control those around him.

Destruction When Challenged. When challenged or rejected, the violent man may resort to extreme measures, including violence, to maintain his sense of control and self-worth. However, this behavior ultimately leads to his own destruction, as he alienates those around him and becomes trapped in a cycle of self-justification and violence.

6. The Self-Destructive Logic of the Criminal Mind

The essence of the ‘hypnotic’ reaction is to ‘block out’ part of the real world, to refuse to recognise its existence.

Vicious Circle of Resentment. The criminal's resentment at perceived injustices slowly builds into a self-perpetuating cycle, leading them to believe that their actions are reasonable and logical. This "hypnotic" state involves blocking out the reality of the victim's humanity and justifying the crime as a legitimate response to their own suffering.

The Allure of the "Easy Way". Criminality is often seen as a shortcut to achieving desired goals, whether it be wealth, power, or recognition. This pursuit of "the easy way" leads to a rejection of self-control and a failure to develop the skills and resilience needed to navigate life's challenges legitimately.

Crime as a Creative Act. Some criminals view their acts as a form of self-expression, a way to assert their individuality and leave their mark on the world. However, this distorted form of self-actualization ultimately leads to self-destruction, as the criminal becomes trapped in a cycle of violence and alienation.

7. Overcrowding, Stress, and the Breakdown of Social Controls

Under normal conditions, in their natural habitats, wild animals do not mutilate themselves, masturbate, attack their offspring, develop stomach ulcers, become fetishists, suffer from obesity, form homosexual pair-bonds, or commit murder. Among human city dwellers, needless to say, all of these things occur.

The Behavioral Sink. Overcrowding and lack of personal space can lead to a "behavioral sink," where normal social behaviors break down and are replaced by aggression, perversion, and violence. This phenomenon, observed in animal studies, suggests that urban environments can create conditions that foster criminal behavior.

Tension and Destabilization. Overcrowding increases inner tension and destabilizes individuals, leading to a release of stress hormones and a breakdown of self-control. This can manifest as indiscriminate aggression, as dominant individuals are deprived of normal outlets for their dominance and turn to violence.

The Importance of Control. The ability to exert self-control and manage inner tension is crucial for navigating the stresses of urban life. Criminals often lack this control, habitually releasing their tensions instead of learning to manage them, leading to a cycle of violence and self-destruction.

8. The Paradox of Cruelty: Indifference and the Overruling Mind

It is because we have minds, and these minds can overrule our instincts.

Indifference as a Catalyst. Cruelty often stems not from active malice, but from indifference and a failure to recognize the humanity of others. This indifference allows individuals to place their victims in a different category, making it easier to inflict harm without empathy or remorse.

The Overruling Mind. Human beings, unlike animals, possess the ability to override their instincts and act against their natural impulses. This capacity for rational thought can be both a source of creativity and a justification for cruelty, as individuals use their minds to rationalize and carry out acts that would otherwise be unthinkable.

Obedience to Authority. Cruel acts are often committed in obedience to authority, as individuals suspend their own moral judgment and follow orders without question. This phenomenon, demonstrated in experiments like the Milgram experiment, highlights the power of authority to override individual conscience and facilitate acts of violence.

9. The Counterpoint of Crime and Creativity in Human Evolution

Man has achieved his present level of civilisation because creativity ‘snowballs’ while crime, fortunately, remains static.

Creativity's Snowball Effect. Human progress is driven by the accumulation of knowledge and innovation, with each generation building upon the achievements of the past. This "snowball effect" allows creativity to compound over time, leading to advancements in science, technology, and culture.

Crime's Static Nature. Unlike creativity, crime tends to remain static, with each generation repeating the same basic patterns of violence and exploitation. Criminals may develop new methods, but their underlying motivations and the negative impact of their actions remain largely unchanged.

The Balance of Forces. The ongoing tension between crime and creativity shapes the course of human evolution, with creativity ultimately outweighing crime due to its compounding effect. This balance suggests that while crime will always be a part of human society, it will never be able to stifle the progress driven by creativity and intelligence.

10. The Importance of Vitality and the Stabilizing Force

Man is the only animal whose way of life demands almost constant use of the inhibitory faculty.

Force T and Force C. Human existence is governed by two opposing forces: Force T (tension), which represents destabilizing stimuli and emotions, and Force C (control), which represents the stabilizing force of reason and self-discipline. The ability to manage and channel these forces is crucial for individual and societal well-being.

The Under-Vitalized Mind. Clever, sensitive individuals are often "psycho-passive," meaning they are more easily hypnotized or influenced due to their lower levels of vitality. This under-vitalization can lead to a state of unreality and a susceptibility to negative suggestions, increasing the risk of criminal behavior.

Raising Vitality and Breaking the Circle. The key to combating crime lies in increasing mental energy and raising vitality, breaking the vicious circle of negativity and unreality. This can be achieved through focused attention, self-discipline, and a commitment to positive action, allowing individuals to regain control of their lives and contribute to society.

Last updated: April 21, 2025