Syllogism, physical fitness, and criminal behavior
Definition of this particular syllogism, Fallacy of Undistributed Middle. Link from Sarah.
NY Times article, "Exercise: Link Is Seen Between Crime and Fitness" talks about a study of Arkansas inmates that suggests criminals there's a link between physical fitness and criminal behavior because a higher than average percentage of prison inmates are mesomorphs. Prison also has endomorphs, "fatties," and ectomorphs, "skinnies," but they were less likely to be committed for violent crimes.
The new study does find that mesomorphs make up an unusually large percentage of the prison population, from 62 percent to 73 percent.
But that does not mean that being fit is a predictor of criminal tendencies, said one of the authors, Jeffery T. Walker of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
“Those who are fit may have personalities that are more likely to make them violent,” Dr. Walker said in an e-mail message.
“In essence,” Dr. Walker said, “what drives them to be fit also drives them to be violent. It is also likely that those who are fit find themselves in violent situations more.”
The theory for the higher rates of mesomorphs in the prison population seemed like they needed more evidence or go into why there's a link. An article I read tonight seemed to have a more in-depth explanation for the higher fitness levels of prison inmates but it doesn't disagree with Walker's idea that the motivating factor for physical fitness is the same as violent actions. In Atlantic Monthly, "The Code of the Streets," Elijah Anderson talks about street culture and learned behavior for poor inner-city black youth that may cause them to be more aggressive. The author describes decent and street socialization as "two poles of value orientation," but it's not a clear cut divider. Street socialization would help explain the relative physical fitness of prison inmates. Of street socialized youth, the author writes "They quickly learn to hit those who cross them, and the dog-eat-dog mentality prevails. In order to survive, to protect oneself, it is necessary to marshal inner resources and be ready to deal with adversity in a hands-on way. In these circumstances physical prowess takes on great significance.
NY Times article, "Exercise: Link Is Seen Between Crime and Fitness" talks about a study of Arkansas inmates that suggests criminals there's a link between physical fitness and criminal behavior because a higher than average percentage of prison inmates are mesomorphs. Prison also has endomorphs, "fatties," and ectomorphs, "skinnies," but they were less likely to be committed for violent crimes.
The new study does find that mesomorphs make up an unusually large percentage of the prison population, from 62 percent to 73 percent.
But that does not mean that being fit is a predictor of criminal tendencies, said one of the authors, Jeffery T. Walker of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
“Those who are fit may have personalities that are more likely to make them violent,” Dr. Walker said in an e-mail message.
“In essence,” Dr. Walker said, “what drives them to be fit also drives them to be violent. It is also likely that those who are fit find themselves in violent situations more.”
The theory for the higher rates of mesomorphs in the prison population seemed like they needed more evidence or go into why there's a link. An article I read tonight seemed to have a more in-depth explanation for the higher fitness levels of prison inmates but it doesn't disagree with Walker's idea that the motivating factor for physical fitness is the same as violent actions. In Atlantic Monthly, "The Code of the Streets," Elijah Anderson talks about street culture and learned behavior for poor inner-city black youth that may cause them to be more aggressive. The author describes decent and street socialization as "two poles of value orientation," but it's not a clear cut divider. Street socialization would help explain the relative physical fitness of prison inmates. Of street socialized youth, the author writes "They quickly learn to hit those who cross them, and the dog-eat-dog mentality prevails. In order to survive, to protect oneself, it is necessary to marshal inner resources and be ready to deal with adversity in a hands-on way. In these circumstances physical prowess takes on great significance.