Why do offenders film themselves committing crime, then share that film with friends, or upload it onto social media platforms? It seems counterintuitive and counterproductive or, more bluntly, just plain stupid.

After all, as we’ve seen in the Sycamore Gap case, these films become the basis on which the police and then lawyers build their prosecution against the accused, who are left trying to deny to the jury what everyone can see. It just doesn’t make sense, does it?

My question is one which is usually answered by thinking about the individual perpetrator – what is it that he gets from putting himself on screen? And it’s true that, for some offenders, there’s an overwhelming narcissistic desire to be the star in their own show and, for others, the films can act like a trophy – they’re a permanent record of something that’s been taken from the victim, which can be re-viewed in the weeks and months after the crime has been committed.

However, the answer to this question is rarely considered from a broader, more cultural level. That’s a mistake, because individuals live in society and, no matter our personal quirks and idiosyncrasies, cultural norms and expectations really do shape our behaviour. We conform to standards that others have set, even if we’re not necessarily consciously aware of when or how that happens.

Read more David Wilson

Accept that Lucy Letby is a killer, no matter how 'nice' she seems

Should Netflix's new true crime drama be allowed to play with the truth?

I wear trainers, rather than shoes; jeans instead of trousers; and I’ve........

© Herald Scotland