MT206: Controlling antisocial acts and tendencies with CAVRI
David Noel
<davidn@aoi.com.au>
Ben Franklin Centre for Theoretical Research
PO Box 27, Subiaco, WA 6008, Australia.
Undesirable Behaviour in Society
Every society or human grouping inevitably has to cope with member behaviour which, for one reason or another, is regarded as undesirable for the society. Such behaviour ranges from the very trivial, such as parking thoughtlessly and taking up too much space, to the most serious, such as killing others without reason.
The more serious occurrences are classed as Crimes -- offences usually breaking specified laws of the society, which are subject to police action and legal punishment. Lesser undesirable actions may be classed as misdemeanours, likely to attract fines or other inconveniences. And more minor contraventions may merely attract disapproval or censure, as breaches of etiquette or against "Fair Play".
Is there a better way of reducing undesirable behaviour, or, conversely, encouraging desirable actions? The basic assertion of this article is that alterations in behaviour may be attained through judicious use of two rapidly developing techniques -- Virtual Reality, and Computer Assist (AI or Artificial Intelligence agents).
CAVRI -- Computer Assisted Virtual Reality Interviews
In this article, the assembly of techniques involved will be called CAVRI (Computer Assisted Virtual Reality Interviews). The range of possibilities involving VR (Virtual Reality) is truly enormous, here we will just look at situations where the aim is to modify human responses in situations common in society -- still a very large area.
One area where VR is already not uncommon is in training and education, as in training for nursing. In this instance, candidates voluntarily take CAVRI to pass tests or obtain an authorization.
Figure MT206-F1. Using VR in nursing education. From [1].
CAVRI is intended to do more than educate in the learning sense. Instead, it is intended to assess human responses in behavioural situations, and also, where responses are initially judged as undesirable, to train and modify user behaviour into more desirable directions.
Working with Children
Here is an area which has become quite sensitive in modern western societies -- the idea that people working with children should be screened to root out any with "paedophilic tendencies", that is, liable to experience sexual arousal in the presence of children. Such screening is fairly universally accepted as necessary, or at least highly desirable.
But in the real world, to get a certificate to work with children may be a purely bureaucratic routine, without any practical consideration. Unfortunately but understandably, there have been instances where people with relevant certificates have been prosecuted for paedophilic acts.
According to Google, "To get a "Working with Children" (WWC) Check in Western Australia, you must complete an application form, have it signed by an employer/organisation (if not self-employed), and lodge it with 100 points of ID at an authorized Australia Post outlet. The process requires a photograph, payment of a fee ($11 for volunteers), and results in a card valid for three years".
Here is an area where a CAVRI module or facility could provide a meaningful assessment of paedophilic tendencies. An applicant wearing VR goggles could be presented with a variety of interactive situations by an AI agent to see how they responded to exposure to children. Because responses to VR situations are instinctive rather than learnt, a systematic and interactive CAVRI Module could become expert at such an assessment.
It has been claimed that interactions with machines, such as lie detectors, can be trained for to produce a false result. While this is unlikely with an interactive AI in CAVRI, those able to train their minds to produce a desired CAVRI result have, in fact, modified their behaviour so as to merit that result -- in the paedophilia instance, they may have suppressed their responses so as to longer present a problem when with children.
Other CAVRI Modules
Another group of CAVRI Modules might offer the opportunity for awards recognizing skill in some undertaking or action. A common example might be that of driving a car.
Figure MT206-F2. Car badge for driving skill. By Gemini Nano Banana.
CAVRI Modules could easily be set up with car steering wheels and foot pedals, for applicants wishing to improve and get public recognition of their skills. Applicants might progressively go for increasing levels -- maybe Bronze, Silver, and Gold.
Figure MT206-F3. Wall certificate for driving skill. By Gemini Nano Banana.
There are variations on driving skill which could be useful. For an example, a young Australian planning to visit and hire a car in Brazil could practice driving on the right-hand side of the road, instead of the left.
CAVRI Modules could be set up for many ranges of professional skills, replacing conventional examinations. It could be argued that these should give more accurate results than written tests,
Civic Character awards
Another class of CAVRI Modules which could be set up might be called Civic Character Modules. At present, people who are judged as having worked and produced improvement in their societies may get public recognition and appreciation via honours and titles which they have not applied for, such as Orders of Australia, or knighthoods in Britain.
However, public recognition is a chancy business and often only happens in the later stages of someone's life. It would be useful if people could improve their fit in the society around them by purposely applying for testing and gaining acknowledgement of their part in social improvement.
CAVRI Civil Character Modules could also automatically check on tendencies to cause disruption -- underlying possible behaviour which could lead to overt disapproval, or rioting, or terrorism. Revealing such tendencies, well before they had attained any actual expression, could be very useful to the individual in bringing out the need to "watch their urges".
The Importance of Choice and Reward
In the great majority of circumstances, an individual's use of CAVRI should be Voluntary -- undertaken to obtain some recognition or reward. Failure to "pass" any such tests would not be made public, only act as an indicator to the candidate that behaviour should be modified for later success.
But there might be incentives for CAVRI actions. For example, voluntarily submitting your DNA sample for retention in an Australian Government records centre might entitle you to a free Australian passport while the DNA was on record. The knowledge that any of your actions overseas might cause foreign countries to ask the Australian Government to identify you would cause you to give second thought to your actions,
Crime and Detection
CAVRI modules could prove very effective in getting to the root of unsolved crimes and misdemeanours. Acting like a detective's interrogation, a CAVRI Crime Module could solve crime mysteries.
These should still be voluntary, as with lie detector tests in most jurisdictions. But with innocent suspects normally willing to CAVRI test and clear their names, and guilty ones not willing, cases deserving deeper investigation would become apparent.
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References and Links
[1]. Lisa Klope. How Virtual Reality is Expanding Nursing Education
https://nursing.ucsf.edu/scienceofcaring/news/how-virtual-reality-expanding-nursing-education .
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