Xbox Effect or Why are the street crime rates going down

Crime has become an integral part of the life of today's society. It has been existing since probably the very first days of the society existence. However, talking about the street crime we can definitely say that there were times when it got increased in rate strongly. For example, the periods of 1930s, and starting with 1960s up to the end of 1990s can be called, I guess, the times of the "blooming" of the street crime and gangs life.


On the contrary, though it can even seem surprising, today the level of the street crime got decreased though even we would have thought something like well, living is getting faster, so the crime rates should go up. However, some of the factors of the modern being make it possible and logic as the consequence.


After reading an article(from the teacher's blog) which was telling directly about the decrease of the street crime in the last couple decades and the reasons to it, I figured out that actually the improvement of technology, communications and even laws in the United States in just last 20 years, could and did influence the crime situation in the cities of the country.


For example, popularity of the Xbox as a device and cult of the video-gaming as for today even logically made the crime levels go down. How? More people nowadays are spending their time in front of their gadgets like TV, laptops, cell-phones and what not, rather than hanging around in the yards together with the friends without knowing what to do and getting into troubles always because of that. Yes, of course, there are both pros and cons in the question of the video games, for instance, sitting on the sofa in front of the screen all days round instead of going out in the fresh air makes some difference. But this difference doesn't worry sociologists and those who are interested in the issue of criminal world existence.


Another interesting point in the article was connected with the legalization of abortions. The scientists claim that this step could also help to decrease the level of the street crime. In which way? Well, by avoiding the birth of the unwanted babies, though even I am personally against abortion as it is, criminalists say that we avoid growing up of the children who are literally left by their parents. And I would say that there is a point in this logic. The less children appear to be in the yards for the whole days round in their teen age, the better for the criminal situation in the state. As far as right because of lack of understanding, support and leading from the side of the parents, a lot of children get involved into bad companies with the bad life attitudes. This way, the more kids get to be under loving and care of their parents. the better for the society in general.


All in all, I would recommend you to read the article which describes in details the 7 main reasons, according to the modern researchers, to decreasing of the street crime and violence. And remember: being a citizen of the United States means being free. However, it does not mean unlimited freedom, but only the freedom of choice, whether good or bad. But you are still responsible for what you choose and how you live.