Retraining the mind: Can VR stop youth crime?

If you have listened to a few episodes of Create with Franz, you probably noticed how many times we mentioned that we often act in automatic mode, without much thinking, and we repeat the same mistakes over and over. You also learned that while habits are hard to break, change is possible for everyone. This is particularly important when it comes to those youth who, for various reasons, are embracing gang life, criminal behaviour, drugs, drinking, smoking and many other dangerous lifestyles that eventually lead into serious issues. What if the solution is to retrain their mind, so they don't easily fall into the same autopilot behaviors? Could this be cheaper and more efficient than sending them to prison, a revolving door from which many come and go as the learning has not occurred? The answer is yes and these are the premises that have informed Stuart Lane to cofound Virtual Decisions, a Birmingham-based organization that aims to empower youth to make well-thought decisions through the help of a blend of AI, Virtual Reality and acting. For over 30 years, Stuart has been on the front lines of youth issues—from homelessness to knife crime—using theatre and technology to help young people navigate life's most dangerous crossroads. Stuart casts young people in the same programs that are meant to protect them, ensuring that every accent, every bit of body language, and every 'perfectly imperfect' moment feels like the real world. Just as a pilot learns to react efficiently to any incident by repeating the correct actions over and over, they learn by practicing and repetition how to react in a safe way that will stop a cascade of wrong decisions and nasty consequences. If you have a friend of loved one who is struggling to stay 'clean' and to manage the stress of today's life but keeps falling into the same trap, please contact Stuart to find out more. This is a potentially life-saving program that I can see implemented world-wide to empower our youth to develop confidence in their capabilities despite a challenging environment. Sharing this episode can help someone get a much better life, using AI as a tool and keeping the human connection intact.   Topics covered: stop youth offending, mindset change, from criminal to good citizen, use VR for good reasons, how to rewire the brain, change bad habits, avoid crime with mindset. Stuart Lane. Watch the interview here: https://youtu.be/xZD55akohe8 Feel free to find out more by checking these links: www.virtualdecisions.co.uk Trailers: https://youtu.be/Bindq0dQuNQ?si=n1jVaz-Rm5iwji1Y  https://youtu.be/DjXieclEs_I?si=026sTnMCpzk87N5q 🙏🏼 Thank you for investing your valuable time with us today. If this message spoke to your soul, you are now a messenger. Choose to be the light today and help someone to change their life, too. 🌅 Share the Light: leave a comment, hit subscribe and share this episode right now with one friend who needs an actionable solution. ✍🏼 Leave your legacy: write a quick rating and review on iTunes to help others find true wellness. ❤️ Thank you for being the reason this message reaches the world. God bless you!