With recent church burnings across Canada spreading, people in a variety of communities are left with more questions than answers..Expert criminologist Dr. Stephen Dumas at the University of Calgary said UCLA colleague’s Jack Katz’s theory on Seductions of Crime could provide an explanation to the aggressive acts, including how deeply they may be tied to the recent discovery of well over a thousand indigenous bodies at previous residential school sites and the fires..Dumas condemned the violent acts by pointing out they may actually hurt the indigenous communities..In 1988, Katz said emotions usually drive violent crimes such as murder and assault..“For instance, a person who’s offended by the actions of an untrue spouse, a disrespectful neighbour, or an unobservant driver, may lash out in anger and violence,” he wrote..He also maintained, however, that emotions were also responsible for property crimes. For example, teens will often steal things that they never use simply to enjoy the ‘sneaky thrills’ offered by criminal behaviour..“Katz argued most violent crimes were an attempt by the perpetrator to extinguish offensive sensations of shame and guilt put forth by others,” Dumas said..Katz’s theory likely rings true with the church burnings. It’s been discovered most of the fires being set are not being perpetrated by those in the indigenous community, but rather by activists claiming to act on behalf of the indigenous community..Dumas added some criminological motivations behind what can push people to the extent it takes to commit acts like arson..“While it’s difficult to speak intelligently about the recent damage to churches across Canada given the perpetrators have yet to be identified, many believe that some of them were likely carried out by indigenous people as some have taken place on reserves,” he said..“On the surface, it appears as though anger about the oppressive conditions experienced in residential schools is responsible for these actions. .“Interestingly, indigenous people were well aware of the poor treatment carried out by various churches and church leaders for some time. In fact, it was indigenous people themselves who made authorities aware of the burials.”.Dumas says it is often not as simple as concluding anger results in destructive acts, especially anger fuelled by retribution for historical events. As Dumas points out, residential schools and the deaths surrounding them are far from Canada’s first infraction against certain communities..“While it is tempting to follow common-sense logic that anger leads to crime, the situation is likely somewhat more complex. Reacting with criminal rage to events that transpired long ago is illogical and unusual,’ he said..“If this were the case, then one would assume that far more retribution today for instances of poor treatment that have taken place in Canada’s troubled history.”.Dumas said some church burnings might suggest the residential schools deaths are acting as justification for some committing aggressive acts. He also touches on the deviant mindset required to commit these acts..“Katz is instructive here because he notes that people seduce themselves into crime. It is a mental process that frees up the motivated offender from the guilt that would otherwise restrict them to conventional conduct,” he said..“In order for the average person to defy convention, they need to rationalize ways to make criminality seem reasonable and appropriate. Criminal seduction requires one to make an action become an offensive identity threat.”.Dumas maintains the burning of churches or destruction of property is unlikely to produce any positive effects..“In some cases, the destruction of these buildings will thwart the ability of indigenous people to hold various events that further build a sense of community.”.Dumas concludes any justification aside, the acts would qualify as deviant from a criminological perspective..“This behaviour should be identified as criminal and appropriately condemned..“The political capital generated by the horrific discoveries of indigenous people buried throughout Canada can be used to implement effective solutions to current problems experienced by indigenous people today. It would be a wasted opportunity to let that capital go up in flames.”.Jackie Conroy is a reporter for the Western Standard.jconroy@westernstandardonline.com
