Criminality

[NoaRiver2020]

Can cultural activities reduce criminality?

[Buenchico]

You certainly ask some odd questions here, NoaRiver2020!

There's plenty of research showing that people with low self-esteem are far more likely to be involved in crime than people with high self-esteem are. So it follows that increasing someone's self-esteem is likely to reduce the chances of him/her getting involved in crime.

That's why, in order to answer your question, it's necessary to differentiate between 'active' and 'passive' cultural activities. If you can get someone involved with a drama group (either as an actor or working backstage), they're likely to get a great sense of achievement from it, meaning that their self-esteem is boosted. That's 'active' involvement. However simply getting someone to watch a play (which is 'passive involvement in a cultural activity) is far less likely to have any effect on their self-esteem.

Similarly, getting someone to produce some artwork, which is then displayed in a local shopping centre for people to admire, is likely to boost their self-esteem. Persuading them to visit an art gallery is unlikely to have the same effect.

Likewise, getting someone who plays the guitar to join a busking group in the city centre, collecting money for a worthy cause, can help to boost their self-esteem. Simply getting them to attend another band's gig won't.

[barry1010]

There is truth in the old adage 'the devil makes work for idle hands'.
If a person is so absorbed in a hobby and/or work and physically tired from doing it he is less likely to get involved in crime. Parental encouragement goes a long way in developing hobbies, activities, a good work ethic.

Unless his hobby is joyriding, football hooliganism or other criminal activity, of course.