Generally speaking, people become uncivil only when under extreme stress (e.g. of poverty). Most people are inherently civil in their nature, hence we have a ci

Generally speaking, people become uncivil only when under extreme stress (e.g. of poverty). Most people are inherently civil in their nature, hence we have a civilisation that reflects this fact. Contrast Portugal, with almost no crime, vs the US, with well documented crime problems. Certainly punishments are no harsher in Portugal than the US, if anything the reverse. However in Portugal people aren't as financially stressed as in the US, not least as everyone has access to healthcare, justice, democracy etc regardless of ability to pay. See also the concept of 'policing by consent' in the UK.