16. Violent, aggressive and sexual offences

This chapter shows that, although psychological explanations have been used to explain various types of criminal or deviant behaviour, it is violent and sexual offences that are most frequently subjected to analysis. Many crimes involve behaviour that was formerly considered perfectly acceptable, but which society has subsequently decided to criminalise. However, psychological theories are particularly suitable for explaining unusual behaviour that often appears aggressive and is likely to be deprecated in most countries. Some may indulge in a range of criminal offences that many people find easy to understand, if not condone: crimes against property—which make up the bulk of recorded criminal offences—being perhaps the best example of this. Despite the fact that violence was far more common in earlier centuries, many people nowadays find excessively violent and sexual crimes far more difficult to comprehend.

Attention-getting in a white-cheeked gibbon by means of a novel vocalization?

Gibbons (family Hylobatidae) are renowned for their melodious territorial songs but other aspects of their acoustic communication have received little research attention. Here we describe an apparently novel idiosyncratic non-song vocalization in an adult captive Southern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus siki), which we suggest acts specifically in attracting a human’s attention. For this preliminary report we analysed 25 individual calls recorded over a period of 6 months. Typically, calling is accompanied by clapping and feet-slapping, behaviours not reported from gibbons in comparable situations so far. The utilization of both innovative vocalizations and other acoustic displays as human-directed attention getters, reminiscent of our white-cheeked gibbon subject, is known from great apes, which further suggests a concordant behavioural function. However, the gibbon’s displays, despite their unequivocal novelty, could also represent unintentional behavioural responses related to frustration. Eventually, experimental approaches are required to clarify what underlies this unusual behaviour.

US–OCTG (Korea): Legal Boundary of ‘Political’ Remedy

The United States – Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods from Korea (US–OCTG (Korea)) Panel decision concerned the latest in a long line of antidumping (AD) disputes about Oil Country Tubular Goods. It was notable for a broadly permissive approach by the Panel – on all major legal issues but one, the Panel sided with the United States over Korean objections. The case itself was also notable for the US reversal of a negative preliminary determination, something that had occurred in less than 1% of prior cases. Finally, the case was notable for unusual behaviour outside of the investigative process, including both vocal political complaints and a curious decision by Korea not to appeal. We discuss the legal determinations made by the Panel and offer a new interpretation of how to think about whether AD practices are justifiable. We also describe the broader diplomatic context in which Korea and the United States interacted and consider the implications if political pressures play an increased role in determining dispute outcomes.