THERE ARE MANY WAYS IN WHICH PRESENT-ORIENTEDNESS MAY INJURE SOCIETY; CRIME IS THE MOST CONSPICUOUS OF THESE. VARIOUS CULTURES AND SUBCULTURES DIFFER GREATLY IN THEIR TENDENCY TO REINFORCE OR WEAKEN THE NATURAL DISPOSITION OF AN INDIVIDUAL TO PREFER PRESENT TO FUTURE REWARDS. THE NORMAL OR TYPICAL INDIVIDUAL IN SOME CULTURES MAY EXHIBIT MANY OF THE SAME TRAITS AS THE NEUROTICALLY IMPULSIVE PSYCHOPATH OF ANOTHER. INSOFAR AS THEY ARE EXPRESSED IN ACTION, THE TRAITS ASSOCIATED WITH PRESENT-ORIENTEDNESS (BOTH PSYCHOPATHIC AND CULTURALLY GIVEN) -- SELF-CENTERED BEHAVIOR, INABILITY TO CONCEIVE OF A 'PUBLIC GOOD,' LACK OF SELF-CONFIDENCE AND OF A FEELING OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONE'S OWN ACTIONS -- TEND TO GIVE RISE TO A CHARACTERISTIC SET OF SOCIAL CONDITIONS, WHICH IN TURN SUPPORT AND PERPETUATE THE TRAITS. A LIST OF THE PRINCIPLE CONDITIONS AND SOME OF THE TRAITS THAT PRODUCE THEM IS PRESENTED. IT INCLUDES: POVERTY, BROUGHT ABOUT BY IMPROVIDENCE, INABILITY TO ACCEPT THE DISCIPLINE OF WORK, AND FATALISM; WEAK OR BROKEN FAMILIES, RESULTING FROM THE INABILITY TO FORM DEEP OR DURABLE ATTACHMENTS AND TO TOLERATE FRUSTRATION; AND CRIME AND DELINQUENCY, FROM THE INABILITY TO CONTROL IMPULSES AND TO EXERCISE JUDGMENT, AND FREEDOM FROM INHIBITIONS AND ANXIETIES. PRESENT-ORIENTEDNESS DOES NOT NECESSARILY LEAD TO CRIME. IN A SOCIETY WITH A COMPLETELY PRESENT-ORIENTED CULTURE, ONE'S KNOWLEDGE THAT OTHERS ARE AS HOT-TEMPERED AS ONESELF AND THE RESULTING FEAR OF PROVOKING QUICK REPRISALS MAY CONSTITUTE AN EFFECTIVE SOCIAL CONTROL. HOWEVER, A COHORT OF PRESENT-ORIENTED PERSONS COULD GENERALLY BE EXPECTED TO COMMIT A GREATER NUMBER OF CRIMES (OF THE IMPULSIVE TYPE) THAN WOULD OTHERS. THE THREAT OF PUNISHMENT BY THE LAW IS UNLIKELY TO DETER THE PRESENT-ORIENTED PERSON. THE GAINS THAT HE EXPECTS FROM HIS ILLEGAL ACT ARE VERY NEAR TO THE PRESENT, WHEREAS THE PUNISHMENT THAT HE WOULD SUFFER IF HE WERE CAUGHT LIES IN A FUTURE TOO DISTANT FOR HIM TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. AN ANALYSIS OF THE FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR AN INCREASINGLY PRESENT-ORIENTED SOCIETY SHOWS THAT AS THOSE WHO HAVE NOT LEARNED IN CHILDHOOD TO CONTROL THEIR IMPULSES BECOME MORE NUMEROUS, MORE CARETAKERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO GUIDE AND CHECK THEIR CONDUCT. IF A CONSIDERABLE DEGREE OF PRESENT-ORIENTEDNESS IS THE NORM OF THE CULTURE, IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO FIND SUCH CARETAKERS. (VDA)