In many countries, the approach to tackling violent crime has been dominated by two ideas for generations. On the one hand, use bigger sticks, like longer prison sentences; on the other, use bigger carrots, like more economic opportunities, to make crime a less attractive choice.

Both of these pillars of policy – enforcement and opportunity – rest on a fundamental assumption – that people are making rational decisions before they act. What if, for the vast majority of violent incidents, that assumption is wrong? 

What if the story of violence is less about good vs. evil, or poverty vs. wealth, and more about the way the human mind reacts to pressure?

In this episode of the BIT Podcast, recorded at the Safer Streets Conference in London, Michael Hallsworth, BIT’s Chief Behavioural Scientist explores a different way of thinking about violence – one rooted in behavioural science.

We hear from: 

🎙️ Jens Ludwig, University of Chicago Professor and co-author of the book Unforgiving Places – on the stubborn problem of violence and challenging the status quo

🎙️ Dr Chico Tillmon, Executive Director of the Community Violence Intervention Academy at the University of Chicago – on programmes designed to reduce serious violence

🎙️ Oeindrila Dube, Professor of Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy – on working with the Chicago Police Department to train officers in de-escalation skills

🎙️Jennifer Doleac, Executive Vice President at Arnold Ventures – on which interventions will have the greatest impact

The BIT podcast

Discover the fascinating and surprising world of behavioural insights by listening to the BIT podcast, brought to you by the Behavioural Insights Team. Find out how understanding the ways people really think and behave through behavioural science can help deliver a fairer society for us all.

Links

To learn more about BIT’s work visit our website: www.bi.team