Week 1 – A Criminology of Pleasure

Week 1 – A Criminology of Pleasure

• Pleasure is not universal; two people may not experience the same pleasure.
• Pleasure is something felt, tied to experience and knowledge.
• Is pleasure a singular entity? Can pleasure from drugs be the same as pleasure from spending time with family?
• Pleasure can be defined as the absence of pain; but is the absence of pain always a good thing?
• Aristotle differentiated pleasure from happiness.
• Jeremy Bentham identified 14 types of pleasure.
• He attempted a "hedonic calculus" to measure pleasure, based on intensity and duration.
• Are intense pleasures better than milder ones?
• Can we compare people with multiple intense pleasures to someone with fewer, but different, pleasures?
• Thomas Hurkel identified four types of pleasure:
  • Simple, localized (physical) pleasures.
  • Simple, extended (good mood) pleasures.
  • Pleasures from success (e.g., scoring high on an exam).
  • Extended, overall satisfaction (life has been good).
• Pleasure, intensity, and pain are complex concepts; can they be compared?
• Pleasure can be defined as the absence of pain. But is this always a good thing?

Philosophies of Pleasure

• Pleasure as a social issue: Certain philosophies see pleasure as a major factor in shaping society.
• The aim of life is to increase pleasure and reduce pain.
• Pleasure is the highest good; actions that bring pleasure should be considered right.
• Epicurus (340-270 BCE): Greek philosopher with a philosophy emphasizing pleasure; often associated with hedonism.
• He did not advocate unlimited pleasure: argued that some pleasures lead to greater disturbances than the pleasure itself.
• Marquis de Sade: Advocated for maximal personal freedom, especially in seeking pleasure.

Criminology and Pleasure

• Sadism: A tendency towards deriving pleasure from inflicting pain on others.
• Utilitarianism: The belief that morally good actions maximize happiness/pleasure for the greatest number of people. It impacts policies, modern state and capitalism.
• Sigmund Freud: More psychoanalytic, psychological perspective. Pleasure is connected to the libido (desire) which is contained in the ID and regulated by the ego.
• Pleasure Principle versus Death Principle (Eros versus Thanatos): Opposing forces that influence behaviour.
• Drug control: Criminology looks at the control/regulation of pleasure through drugs.
• Criminalizing sexual behaviours: Discussion on the regulation of sexual behaviours from a criminological perspective.
• Familiar explanations of crime include choice, economic compulsion, differential association and environment.
• Could the pursuit of pleasure explain criminal motivation?
• Jack Katz's 'Seduction of crime' argues crime is often pleasurable.
• Subcultural approaches examine origins of pleasure in particular groups (e.g., graffiti artists).
• Cultural criminology examines 'thrill and buzz' as motivations for crime.
• Punishment: Exploring the potential for pleasure derived from punishing others.
• Financial crash (2008): An example of where pleasure-driven decisions impacted economics.

Criminology and Economic Incentives

• Criminology can help in understanding economic incentives(wealth, power, prestige) and how they are related to pleasure.
• Pursuing unnecessary desires can lead to more anxiety and discomfort than happiness.
• A balanced life, with moderate desires, can lead to true happiness without the dissatisfaction of intense cravings.