Multinational Research Society Publisher

MRS Journal of Arts, Humanities and Literature

Issue-10(October), Volume-2 2025

1. Innovative Findings and Proposals on the Evolutionary and Psychobiolog...
1

Gulay Gumus*
St Clements University
1-7
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17241297

Bullying is not merely a product of social and cultural factors but also a complex phenomenon shaped by evolutionary and psychobiological processes. This study examines the motivation to bully by exploring its evolutionary roots and psychobiological foundations, aiming to reveal the multilayered dynamics underlying this behavior. From an evolutionary perspective, bullying may have served functions such as gaining status, controlling resources, and regulating social hierarchies. From a psychobiological perspective, neural structures such as the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and reward circuits, along with neurohormonal interactions involving testosterone, dopamine, and cortisol, appear to sustain bullying behavior. Additionally, the role of the mirror neuron system in empathy deficits is emphasized. The study further discusses how modern contexts, such as cyberbullying, reshape evolutionarybiological tendencies and proposes an integrative model of bullying motivation. This approach highlights bullying as not only an individual issue but also an interactive process across biological, psychological, and social domains.

2. UNPACKING THE DRIVERS OF VIOLENT PROPERTY CRIME IN SOUTH AFRICA: SOCIO...
4

Dr. John Motsamai Modise*
Tshwane University of Technology
8-24
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17248639

This study examines the drivers of violent property crime in South Africa, emphasizing the interplay between socioeconomic inequality, historical structural legacies, institutional weaknesses, community dynamics, and organized criminal networks. The research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of these factors and to develop evidence-based recommendations for multi-stakeholder crime prevention strategies. Violent property crime remains a persistent challenge in South Africa, despite policy interventions and law enforcement efforts. Structural inequalities, the spatial legacies of apartheid, ineffective policing, slow judicial processes, and fragmented community structures contribute to high crime rates (Seekings, 2020; Mabuza, 2018; Von Holdt, 2021; SAPS, 2023). Existing studies often isolate individual factors, limiting holistic understanding and undermining the design of integrated crime prevention strategies. The study adopts a systematic approach, combining integrating classical criminological theories (strain theory, social disorganization theory, routine activity theory) with contemporary studies (2020–2024) on property crime in South Africa. Secondary data analysis: Examining crime statistics and socio-economic indicators from SAPS, UNODC, and local studies. Thematic synthesis: Identifying recurring patterns and drivers of violent property crime across multiple levels—structural, institutional, community, and organized crime networks. Socio-economic inequality and poverty are primary motivators of violent property crime. Historical spatial legacies concentrate crime in marginalized urban areas. Institutional weaknesses including underresourced policing and slow prosecutions undermine deterrence. Community dynamics such as weak social cohesion and fragmented informal networks exacerbate vulnerability. Organized crime networks exploit systemic weaknesses, intensifying the frequency and severity of property crimes. The study offers a multi-level analytical framework integrating structural, institutional, community, and organized crime perspectives. It provides stakeholder-specific recommendations for government, police, justice departments, community leaders, NGOs, and religious institutions, emphasizing collaborative, evidence-based strategies to reduce violent property crime. Effective reduction of violent property crime in South Africa requires holistic, integrated interventions that address socioeconomic inequalities, historical disadvantages, institutional inefficiencies, community vulnerabilities, and organized criminal activities. The research contributes to knowledge, informs policy and practice, and supports coordinated multi-stakeholder efforts to enhance public safety, social cohesion, and sustainable crime prevention.

3. THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN POVERTY, INEQUALITY AND VIOLENT CRIME IN SOUTH A...
6

Dr. John Motsamai Modise*
Tshwane University of Technology
25-39
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17248838

This study investigates the relationship between poverty, inequality, and violent crime across African countries and diaspora communities. It seeks to understand how socio-economic deprivation, perceived inequality, youth marginalization, urbanization, and weak governance collectively drive violent crime, and to identify evidence-based strategies for crime prevention and sustainable development. Violent crime remains a persistent challenge across Africa, disproportionately affecting impoverished and marginalized communities. Despite economic growth in several countries, high levels of poverty and inequality, coupled with weak governance and limited social opportunities, continue to fuel criminal behavior. Existing research is often country-specific, outdated, or limited in scope, leaving a critical knowledge gap regarding continent-wide patterns of violent crime and the role of diaspora engagement in prevention strategies. This study employs a systematic, multi-level research approach, integrating both qualitative and quantitative methods. It involves. A literature review synthesizing recent (2020–2025) and foundational studies to identify key drivers of violent crime. Comparative analysis across African countries to examine regional variations in crime patterns. Theoretical integration of Strain Theory, Relative Deprivation Theory, and Routine Activity Theory to provide a robust analytical framework. Inclusion of diaspora perspectives to assess cross-border socio-economic influences on crime trends. The study provides a holistic understanding of violent crime in Africa, linking structural socio-economic factors, environmental conditions, and governance dynamics with criminal behavior. It advances knowledge by integrating recent empirical data with classical theoretical frameworks. Highlighting the role of youth, urbanization, and diaspora engagement in crime prevention. Offering actionable recommendations for governments, law enforcement, communities, and international stakeholders. Poverty and inequality are fundamental drivers of violent crime, particularly in urban informal settlements. Youth unemployment and marginalization significantly increase vulnerability to criminal behavior. Urbanization and environmental factors create opportunities for crime in poorly planned or underserved areas. Weak governance and institutional capacity exacerbate crime rates and undermine social stability. Integrated, multi-sectoral approaches, including diaspora engagement, community-led initiatives, and evidence-based policy interventions, are most effective in reducing violent crime. Violent crime in Africa is multi-dimensional, arising from the interplay of socio-economic deprivation, inequality, youth marginalization, urban vulnerabilities, and weak governance. Addressing these challenges requires holistic, inclusive, and evidencebased strategies that involve governments, communities, law enforcement, civil society, and the diaspora. This study provides a framework for sustainable crime prevention, social stability, and socio-economic development across Africa and diaspora communities.

4. HISTORICAL AND ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME: CULTURAL AND SOCIETAL FACTORS IN...
2

Dr. John Motsamai Modise*
Tshwane University of Technology
40-48
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17293281

This study investigates the historical, cultural, and societal factors contributing to crime in South Africa. It aims to understand how legacies of colonialism and apartheid, socio-economic inequality, cultural norms, and weakened social structures collectively influence criminal behaviour, with a view to informing sustainable and culturally sensitive crime prevention strategies. Despite numerous legal and policing interventions, crime in South Africa remains persistently high, particularly in urban and marginalized communities. Existing approaches often fail to address the root causes of crime, including historical injustices, cultural acceptance of violence, family breakdown, and structural inequalities, leading to cyclical patterns of criminal behaviour and social dislocation. The study adopts a systematic qualitative approach, integrating literature review, theoretical analysis, and empirical evidence from recent studies. Key criminological frameworks including Social Disorganization, Strain, Social Learning, Culture of Violence, and Cultural Deviance theories are used to interpret the influence of cultural, societal, and historical factors on crime. Data were systematically synthesized to provide a holistic understanding of crime determinants. This research provides a comprehensive, multi-dimensional framework linking historical legacies, cultural norms, and social structures with contemporary crime trends. It highlights the importance of stakeholder collaboration, community-based interventions, and restorative justice approaches, offering practical recommendations for policymakers, law enforcement, and community leaders. Historical legacies of apartheid and colonialism have entrenched socio-economic inequalities and mistrust in formal justice systems. Cultural norms, including certain conceptions of masculinity and traditional justice practices, contribute to the normalization of violence. Weak social structures family, education, and community networks exacerbate vulnerability to criminal behaviour. Multi-stakeholder collaboration produces a coimpact effect that is more effective than isolated interventions. Crime in South Africa is deeply embedded in historical, cultural, and societal contexts, making purely punitive measures insufficient. Sustainable crime prevention requires integrated strategies addressing socio-economic inequality, transforming cultural norms, strengthening social institutions, and fostering coordinated stakeholder engagement. By addressing the root causes, South Africa can move towards safer, more equitable, and resilient communities.

5. INTEGRATED CRIME AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGY (ICVPS)
5

Dr. John Motsamai Modise*
Tshwane University of Technology
49-57
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17293826

This article examines the effectiveness of South Africa’s Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy (ICVPS), focusing on its core themes: an effective criminal justice system, early intervention, victim support, integrated service delivery, violence prevention through developmental design, and community participation. Despite the comprehensive framework of the ICVPS, crime and violence rates in South Africa remain high, with challenges in implementation, coordination, and accessibility of services undermining the strategy’s impact. The study reveals uneven progress across key thematic areas, highlighting resource constraints, fragmented interdepartmental coordination, limited victim support access, and underutilization of environmental design principles. Furthermore, community participation, while critical, faces barriers such as limited awareness and engagement. By synthesizing recent empirical data and policy analyses, this article identifies practical gaps and success factors in the ICVPS’s implementation. It offers evidence-based recommendations to enhance integrated service delivery, strengthen victim-centred approaches, and foster inclusive community involvement in crime prevention. Achieving sustainable crime and violence reduction in South Africa requires renewed focus on multi-sectoral collaboration, investment in early intervention and victim support, and empowerment of communities as active partners. The article contributes to both academic discourse and policymaking by providing actionable insights to strengthen the ICVPS and improve public safety outcomes.

6. Unmasking Women’s Pushback for Emancipatin against The Backdrop of Soc...
7

Dr. Abib SENE*, Mr. Ablaye NDO...
Associate Professor, Laboratory of African and Postcolonial Studies, Department of English, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal
58-62
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17384587

This paper aims at spotlighting the bumpy path towards women‟s emancipation and the latter‟s full whack to find a way out of the social or traditional norms the aim of which is to have women knuckle under men‟s will. Having for decades been under the yoke of male dominance, women‟s all-out drive to break the shackles of a two-pronged system of patriarchy, (a system informed by both tradition and colonialism), is given undivided attention. Thus being, Shimmer Chinodya and Dambudzo Marechera in their fictional works bring on surface traditional systems and cultural practices such as polygamy that continually wreck untold psychological havoc to Zimbabwean women. The paper, as well, looks at women whose feministic bent in the post-colonial era for the de-phallocratization of traditions and cultural norms appears as a foil to the single-mindedness by men to fence off their power and authority. It further delves into the social cum psychological changes that, to some extent, favoured gender balance, which is then the sense in which modernity can be seen as an open sesame to the end social stratification and women‟s silence.





Submit Manuscript