Bandit Culture

 I watched an article by Thomas Sowell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT4NQ9D0M6w&t=3053s

looking at the origin of some of the culture groups in the US.  He is interested in the topic as it relates to some of the current culture groups in the US. 

I found it interesting as it posed a question about what happens when immigrants bring particular cultures into a country.  I don't think this is a particularly unique idea as I think I have seen it talked about many times.  Essentially, culture clash. 

The specific issue that I found interesting was the line that was drawn between the origin of the culture groups that Thomas was talking about.  The groups origins were in the disputed lands between England and Scotland and in what is now Northan Ireland.  My grasp of historical geography might be a little rough but the point was that the immigrants were drawn from regions with a long history of lawlessness and conflict.  The resulting group of people carried with them a set of behaviours that were shaped by the environment they were drawn from. Namely, lawlessness, vigilantie justice, preoccupation with honor, no work ethic, no savings or investment, no enterprise, gambling, dueling, racing etc. 

These behaviour patterns all make sense in a context of conflict, raiding, short lifespans, etc.  When life is short, cheap and brutal... people adapt to it.  Not ideal but realistic. 

As an aside I remember somewhere a report on the behaviour of elephants changed when they were under pressure from hunting and poaching.  Again they adapted due to the stressful environment.  Behaviour that would have been seen as undesirable in a more relaxed and bountiful environment were selected for and re-inforced by practice. 

Where am I going with this?  Bandit Cultures....

So I was wondering what it would take to convert someone who was raised in a bandit culture to the cultural practices of a more prosperous law abiding culture?

Can you just put someone down in a new context and hope they .... get the idea?

I would suggest that people coming out of prison are a good example of where this does not work.  Immigrants who have survived in harsh environments or indigenous cultures with collectivist survival skills are going to find it difficult to live by a set of principles and rules that they have not been educated in.  Most cultures do not have a manual, trying to help someone get the idea... even when everyone want it, is going to be hard work. 

How can it be done?  Perhaps the same way we should raise children?  Cause basically all children are bandits... and some of them turn out ok.  

A instruction, forgiveness, repetition, praise when they succeed, correction when they fail.