{"id":29325,"date":"2018-01-19T11:05:11","date_gmt":"2018-01-19T11:05:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lse.ac.uk\/granthaminstitute\/?post_type=publication&p=29325"},"modified":"2024-08-19T14:40:03","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T13:40:03","slug":"understanding-interpersonal-violence-impact-temperatures-mexico","status":"publish","type":"publication","link":"https:\/\/www.lse.ac.uk\/granthaminstitute\/publication\/understanding-interpersonal-violence-impact-temperatures-mexico\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding interpersonal violence: the impact of temperatures in Mexico"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This research investigates how and why high temperature has an effect on criminality, using data from Mexico. The mainstream theory is that human psychology could be affected by heat, leading people to act violently. Other theories suggest that committing a crime may be easier, or that social interactions are more frequent, during a hot day.<\/p>\n

The study uses daily crime records for Mexico on accusations and processed individuals from the ‘First Instance Courts’ from 1997–2012 and daily temperature and rainfall data from the Mexican National Weather Service. The research shows that an increase of 1°C linearly increases the accusation rate of all types of crimes by 1.3%. The crime accusation rate is expected to be one third higher during a hot day (>32°C) than during a cold day (<10°C).<\/p>\n

These results are not fully compatible with the idea that a psychological or physiological effect would cause increases in criminality. This is because psychological effects should only appear outside the comfort zone of the human body (20–25°C). Additional analyses show that a significant share of weather-related crimes can be explained by higher alcohol consumption (9%) and changes in time use during weekends (17%). Also, 28% of weather-related crimes are committed at night, when temperatures are mild.<\/p>\n

This research therefore suggests that the additional crimes are committed because of changes in time use and habits by both criminals and their victims during hot days. This implies that increased surveillance and prevention policies during hot days could be more effective in managing heat-related criminality than physiological moderators such as air conditioning. However, more research is needed to assess the effectiveness of different measures in reducing heat-related criminality.<\/p>\n

Key points for decision-makers:<\/strong><\/h2>\n