Changing Cultural Trends and Change in Criminal Behaviour: An Empirical Study of Socio-Cultural Influences in Pakistan

Abstract

Changing trends of cultural values can alter social norms, family relationships, lifestyle, patterns of community interaction and awareness’s of adequate behaviour. This conversion may be relevant to changing model of criminal behaviour. The present Study scrutinizes the association between Changing Cultural trends and Change in Criminal behaviour with the help of quantitative survey data obtained from 384 respondents from district North Waziristan previously known as Fata Waziristan. The Variable Changing Cultural Trends was prepared through ten indicators concentrating on changing cultural values, modernization, social, norms, traditional values, social media exposure, family traditions, lifestyle, materialistic culture, community interaction and broader cultural change in Pakistan. The variable changing cultural trends demonstrated acceptable internal consistency with Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of .755. Descriptive results showed a strong affirmative responses pattern with the range of 81.3 percent to 82.3 percent for Yes across all ten indicators. Bivariate level analysis for all items was conducted using Pearson’s Chi Square and Fisher’s Exact Test to find out association between individual items indicators and Change in Criminal Behaviour. All ten items were statistically significantly associated with dependent variable having Fisher’s p value range from < .001 to .024. at the composite level analysis, Changing Cultural Trends was found significantly associated with Change in Cultural Trends having Pearson’s χ²(4) = 302.176 and p < .001. the statistics show that respondents’ perceptions of changing cultural values, norms, lifestyle family traditions, social media exposure, materialism, and community interaction are statistically related to recognition of changes in criminal behaviour. These relationships can be in the context of of cultural and sub-cultural perspectives on crime (Cohen, 1955. Ferrell et al, 2008 and social control perspective (Sampson & Laub, 1993). This study does not establish causal effect instead it shows evidence of statistically significance bivariate association within the study sample. More specifically, the study highlights the importance of considering cultural transformation as part broader criminological explanations and crime prevention policies.