The Causes of Crime - Research Paper Example

The Causes of Crime Introduction Of late, the US societies and communities have been facing alarmingly rising crimes as a result of umpteenth number of causes. According to Darrow, the author of Crime: Its Causes and Treatment, “Strictly speaking, a crime is an act forbidden by the law of the land, and one which is considered sufficiently serious to warrant providing penalties for its commission” (Darrow, 2007:6). A person committing a crime is considered to be the one who infringes the regular norms and practices of life and defies the expected ways of living in the society where he resides (Darrow, 2007:8). For understanding crime in-depth, one needs to first identify the root causes which actually lead to its commitment. A study of the reasons of crime will go a long way in preventing crime thereby preventing the subsequent punishments. It has been correctly said, “Punishment deals with the symptoms of crime, whereas prevention deals with the root causes” (Talidari, n.d.). It is imperative to coherently investigate and analyze the factors which stimulate the adoption of crimes. Once the causes of crime are thoroughly identified, then only steps for preventing it can actually be formulated. An in-depth knowledge of the causes of crime will enable us to live in a safe and fear-proof society. Many criminologists have come forward with their various theories on the factors which are responsible for committing crimes. While the choice theory suggests that an individual enters into doing erroneous field by his or her free will and hence should be severely punished, the theory of positivism argues that an individual may exhibiting criminal behavior as it was inherited to him or her from childhood, or as he or she is a victim of any mental or psychological disorder. There are studies which show that the lifestyle adopted the intake of drugs and alcohols, the playing of hormones can lead to adoption of criminal activities. The primary causes of crime can be due to poverty, lack of education, unemployment, peer pressure, lack of self-confidence, paucity of love, easy access to information and weapons through black-markets and internet, playing aggressive games, watching violent programs on television, and many more! The Causes of Crime When we actually delink ourselves from our enlightened source we land up at wrong places at wrong times taking wrong actions (Talidari, n.d.). By digging the root causes of crime, we can truly prevent its occurrence. A thorough study of the following will enable us to get an idea of the factors which lead to the commitment of crime: Source: (“Tulsa Tuesday”, 2008) Weakness Most of us are surrounded by umpteenth number of negative feelings encompassing “fear, ignorance, hatred, worry, revenge, envy, attachment, greed, lust, selfishness, doubt, prejudice, pride, vanity, impatience, sloth, discrimination, arrogance, ambition, addiction, gluttony, criticism, blame, anxiety, frustration and so on” (Talidari, n.d.). Fortunately, majority of us possess the courage and patience to combat such demonic forces. However, those who are actually timid with less strength and tolerance power succumb to the pressures thereby landing up in committing crimes. Weakness can be due to the following main reasons: (Talidari, n.d.) Shortage of Self-Confidence – Lack of one’s own confidence to fight from falling into the clutches of the inner negative thoughts makes a person weak. Such an individual becomes distant from his or her own personal strengths such as, “courage, tolerance, understanding, forgiveness, mercy, honesty, sincerity, integrity, honor, modesty, humbleness, generosity, love, compassion, kindness, detachment, patience, self-discipline, temperance, etc.” (Talidari, n.d.). Inequality – majority of the individuals entering the world of crime make indomitable endeavors to strengthen their muscles but actually posses an extremely weak mental and emotional strength (Talidari, n.d.). The principle cause of this mismatch is that there lies an imbalance between their physical and mental strengths (Talidari, n.d.). Unjustified Opinion Insufficient education and proper guidance many a times lead the individual to enter a wrong path (Talidari, n.d.). The inability to distinguish the right from the wrong results in having poor judgments and thus raises the possibility of committing crime. Paucity of Love Those who are brought up in dysfunctional families as well as those individuals who are victims of unfavorable situations like discrimination, insufficient love and attention may have a latent tendency to give up to the calls of unethical practices (Talidari, n.d.). The more ignored ones, though not always, are actually more prone to committing crime than those who are raised in loving environment. Poverty Poverty is one of the leading causes of crime commitments. Being poor is considered to be a curse in the society which puts immense pressures to attain unlimited materialistic goals. This greed of endless materialistic desires has the power of filling up even the right man’s mind with wrong intentions (Talidari, n.d.). The less privileged people, particularly the unemployed ones, are more prone to indulge in erroneous means of earning money (Talidari, n.d.). The lust for attaining more and more material wealth by hook or crook makes them commit crimes (Talidari, n.d.). The wages earned by such individuals may not be sufficient to meet the basic needs of their lives and hence they indulge into such unsocial activities like theft, robbery, kidnap, etc to achieve materialism to support their families (Melkonyan, 2008). Underprivileged Neighborhoods Financially unsound neighbors exhibit greater chances of owning criminal minds (Talidari, n.d.). The feeling of being comparatively less privileged ones in terms of the living standards have chances of making them choose the wrong path. Television Violence Television is considered to be the source of violence widely corrupting the minds of not only the innocent children and the sensitive teenagers but also the fully matured men and women by reducing their tolerance and patience levels and making them more and more aggressive (Talidari, n.d.). The stunts and criminal acts shown on the television act as training medium for the watchers who desire to try it out in their real lives (Talidari, n.d.). Being stuck in a series of events It may so happen that an individual has no intention to cause any harm (Talidari, n.d.). However, due to the occurrence of some unforeseen and uncontrollable events one after another, he or she may be completed to take any erroneous step (Talidari, n.d.). Improper Parenting Improper parenting as a result of excessive tight or undue loose discipline, supervision, guidance or monitoring may lead the child to adopt crime (Talidari, n.d.). Parental conflicts or separations, fatherlessness, alcoholic or criminal parents are all forms of weak parenting skills that leave a lasting impact on the minds of children who then choose to commit crime (Talidari, n.d.). Neglected children whose desires and expectations are not taken care of properly are prone to absorb criminal behaviors (Melkonyan, 2008). Peer Pressures Source: (“Finals and Stress”, 2010) Peer pressures on weak students to top in academics actually depress them (Melkonyan, 2008). The overt stress put on them by narrating ‘the survival of the fittest’ model to attain that level of competitive edge stirs up their minds thereby weakening them (Melkonyan, 2008). Factor related to Ecology It has been revealed by criminal scientists that the level of aggression hormones like epinephrine and testosterone rises up during warmer temperatures (Talidari, n.d.). Chilly winter nights have a record of keeping the criminals away from the streets (Talidari, n.d.). However, among the approaching consequences of global warming there lies the fact that increasing temperatures will derive more and more of criminal activities (Talidari, n.d.). Playing Aggressive Video Games Research has declared that overt indulgence in violent video games encourages the mind of both the innocent children as well as the matured individuals to become aggressive and less tolerance which might lead to anti-social behavior (“Only in America”, n.d.). An online game which became a highly debatable issue throughout the United States in 2008 was developed in such a way that the players were able to shoot presidential candidates like Barck Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and others with the help of paintballs (“Only in America”, n.d.). This virtual aggression according to many was actually, “planting a seed in the mind of adolescents and young adults.” (“Only in America”, n.d.). Unjustified Decisions of the Supreme Court Unreasonable and fraudulent court rulings go a long way in encouraging additional crimes (Talidari, n.d.). Easy Access to Handguns With the convenient availability of handguns purchased and stolen from black-markets in the United States exhibiting criminal expression is not very difficult (Sullivan, 2008). It has been noted shockingly noted that firearms ranked as the eight popular mediums of deaths in the world in the early twenty-first century (Melkonyan, 2008). Internet: A Source of Crime-Training Of late, the internet has been a highly controversial topic for its negative impacts (Melkonyan, 2008). Particularly for individuals possessing highly inquisitiveness for criminal behavior, the internet has proved to be a boom by providing them all sorts of information on how to commit crimes from how to make bombs, purchase poison, etc. (Melkonyan, 2008). Theories highlighting the Causes of Crime Various think-tanks have put forward a number of theories highlighting the core causes of crime. Let us explore these one by one: Crime & Free Will: The Choice Theories of Crime As per the American criminal justice system, a person commits crime because he wishes to do so (Gaines & Miller, 2008). An individual’s free will to indulge in criminal activities leads him or her to adopt such a behavior (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Theories of Classical Criminology The theory of Classical Criminology states that an individual commits a crime with free will and human rationality (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Before attempting crime, he or she compares the consequent benefits if successful with the following anxieties if caught (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Hence, crime can never take place of its own without the intention of the person committing it. It is actually the outcome of his or her rational decision-making process (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Positivism & Modern Rational Theory The supporters of the Positivism and Modern Rational Theory criticize the Classical Criminology Theory on the grounds that criminal behavior can be due to various factors namely biological, psychological and social and may not be within the control of the individual committing crime (Gaines & Miller, 2008). It has been said, “criminals were throwbacks to the savagery of early humankind and could therefore be identified by certain physical characteristics such as sharp teeth and large jaws.” (Gaines & Miller, 2008: 38). A criminal behavior can be due to “mental illness and could be genetically passed down from generation to generation in families that had cases of insanity, syphilis, epilepsy, and even deafness.” (Gaines & Miller, 2008: 38). Hence, the positivism theory criticizes the classical criminology theory on the basis that free choice for wrongdoing cannot always be the source of criminality (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Rather, it might simply be predetermined at birth (Gaines & Miller, 2008). The positivism started losing its popularity with the rising crime rates in the 1970s (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Further, it was argued that if criminal act was due to external factors only, the proactive social programs of the 1960s would not have failed in coherently pushing back criminal behaviors (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Hence, a revised version of the classical criminology theory emerged by the name of the rational choice theory (Gaines & Miller, 2008). The Crime Allurement In support of the rational choice theory, the sociologist Jack Katz rewards received by a criminal on successful completion of one crime lures him to proceed for the next crime (Gaines & Miller, 2008). These negative rewards can be both financial as well as sensual (Gaines & Miller, 2008). The thrill which a criminal feels on committing the first crime seduces him to go on for the second, and then the third and so on (Gaines & Miller, 2008). For a serial killer like John Wayne Gacy, who holds a record of killing over 30 people reveals that death provides him the ultimate thrill (Gaines & Miller, 2008). “Born Criminal”: Biological & Psychological Theories of Crime These trait theories reveal that many a times individuals are stimulated by biological or psychological traits to indulge in criminal activities in a particular situation (Gaines & Miller, 2008). While biology pertains to the study of living organisms, psychology deals with the study of the mind (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Biochemical Conditions & Crime According to one trait theory criminal behavior is also influenced by biochemistry which deals with the chemistry of living matter (Gaines & Miller, 2008). An incidence of such criminal act invigorated by biochemistry was the murder of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk by Dan White in 1979 (Gaines & Miller, 2008). The accused claimed to be innocent by putting forward the fact that the criminal act was stimulated by a significant “mood disturbance” due to high level intake of high-sugar junk food (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Hormones & Aggression Hormones in men particularly testosterones can also pave way to criminal behavior (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Testosterones actually monitor secondary sex characteristics which are directly related to the traits of aggression (Gaines & Miller, 2008). It has been discovered that individuals indulged in violent crimes possess higher levels of testosterone than others (Gaines & Miller, 2008). The levels of testosterone also reflect the age-crime relationship (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Men under the age of 28 have higher testosterone levels are usually found to be more common in criminal acts than those between 31 and 66, due to the falling level of testosterone (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Research reveals that hormones are responsible for violence in women too (Gaines & Miller, 2008). These traits are usually identified after childbirth or during menopause (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Psychology & Crime A number of experts have put forward the human psychological factor as a significant medium for encouraging criminal instincts (Gaines & Miller, 2008). An individual carrying criminal trait usually suffers from either strong ego when the feeling of guilt makes him to commit crime in order to be punished or weak ego when his violent urges are beyond his control (Gaines & Miller, 2008) Source: (“The Definition of Stress”, 2009) Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) Personality disorder is also seen as a major cause of crime by some criminologists (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Such people during the middle of the twentieth century an individual suffering with this problem was termed as psychopath (Gaines & Miller, 2008). As per the criminologists supporting this logic, “The psychopath was seen as a person who had somehow lost her or his “humanity” and was unable to experience human emotions such as love or regret, to control criminal impulses, or to understand the consequences of her or his decisions”. (Gaines & Miller, 2008: 43). This concept however has been replaced by the antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) model in which individuals exhibiting criminal behaviors are of at least eighteen years of age (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Use of Drugs The intake of drugs or any alcoholic drinks such as wine or beer is believed to cause physiological or psychological damage to the one who takes it or even to third parties (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Hence, doses of drugs makes a person weak in controlling his emotions and may Source: (“Cocaine”, 2009) lead him to commit crime (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Those addicted to drugs and not being able to obtain the same are compelled to commit crimes in order to support their drug habits (Melkonyan, 2008). It is believed, “Both drugs and alcohol impair judgment and reduce inhibitions (socially defined rules of behavior), giving a person greater courage to commit a crime. Deterrents such as long prison sentences have little meaning when a person is high or drunk.” (Melkonyan, 2008). Lifestyle Theories Lifestyle theories developed by Michael Hindelang, Michael Gottfredson, and James Garofalo, suggests that people absorb tendencies of criminal behavior by putting themselves in situations which disassociate them from their homes for instance being aloof from others, spending considerable time alone at nights on the dimly lit streets thereby interacting less with people and being steeped in one’s own world of demonic thoughts (Regoli & Hewitt, 2009). Moreover, “when they are out, their cars and homes may be left unattended and, therefore, are likely to be victimized” (Gaines & Miller, 2008: 67). Crime Driving Factors: An Insight The alarmingly rising cases of crime have compelled the twenty-first century criminologists to come forward to investigate the root causes of crime (Melkonyan, 2008). It has been coherently observed that an individual committing crime generally has a combination of one or more of the factors like societal, cultural (encompassing family values), system (comprising of educational, political, law enforcement…), economical, and others which stimulates a criminal behavior in him or her (Melkonyan, 2008). According to Amalia Melkonyan, an expert in criminal studies, (Melkonyan, 2008): Reasons for committing a crime include greed, anger, jealousy, revenge, or pride. Some people decide to commit a crime and carefully plan everything in advance to increase gain and decrease risk. These people are making choices about their behavior; some even consider a life of a crime better than a regular job—believing crime brings in greater rewards, admiration, and excitement—at least until they are caught. Others get an adrenaline rush when successfully carrying out a dangerous crime. Others commit crimes on impulse, out of rage or fear. If we ask the question why do people commit crime we will get countless answers like poverty, greed, mental illness, stupidity, etc. (Cole & Smith, 2006). Everyday, in the newspaper, we get to read umpteenth number of diverse crimes (Cole & Smith, 2006). Reports like, “the former Governor of Connecticut being sentenced to prison for accepting money and gifts from contractors; New York City detectives accused of being “hit men” working for organized-crime leaders; and the government’s concerns about preventing terrorist attacks on public transportation” (Cole & Smith, 2006: 52) are very common. All these diverse crimes cannot be caused due to just one single reason (Cole & Smith, 2006). Rather there are various causes which lead to such crimes be it sale of illegal drugs, rape cases, kidnapping or murdering (Cole & Smith, 2006). While exploring the reasons of crime we tend to ignore how inefficient economy, government policy, family and even education lead to the encouragement of crime (Cole & Smith, 2006). Conclusion There are innumerable circumstances that influence a common man to wear the attire of a criminal and commit serious crimes that he wouldn’t have ever thought. Yes, the circumstances that cause crime and the individual who commit them are a separate entity that needs to be investigated and then treated in isolation. For an individual, the issues of poverty, disturbing family life, peer pressures, etc. influx the desire to break away from the traditional remedy and take the help of crime. These social pressures build over a period of time and one has a chance to control these unwanted aggression with proper treatment and counseling. Therefore, government and different non-profit organizations need to take the initiative of establishing such centers for rehabilitation of effected people. After social pressures, comes the youthful diversion e.g. drug addiction, lost in love, over gaming, internet, etc. It is very difficult to restrict youth from getting exposed to such misfits. However, if these issues are a part of the normal moral science curriculum supported with focused parental guidance, they can be controlled to a great extent. The day-by-day alarmingly rising rates of crimes has become a matter of great concern for the society as well as the government. More and more investigations are being carried out indomitable to get to the root to this highly panicking issue of today’s world which is crime. The common factors which drive criminal behavior encompasses umpteenth number issues such as poverty, unemployment, lack of education, paucity of love, peer pressure, poor parenting, lack of self-confidence, easy access to handguns and information on how to make bombs from the black-markets and the internet respectively, excessive consumption of drugs and alcoholic beverages, playing aggressive video games, watching violent programs on the television, to mention just a few. It has also been observed that some people exhibit crime as it provides them joy and contentment. One successful crime lures them to commit another one and then the next and so on! Various criminologists have come up with their own logics and arguments for determining the root causes of crime. According to the choice theory, an individual commits crime with free will and rationality. Hence, he is considered as an intentional committer of crime who deserves to be punished severely. On the contrary, the theory of positivism argues that various biological, psychological and social factors are there which instigates individual to commit crimes and are totally beyond his control as for instance, an individual may be born with such genes, or he may have mental or psychological disorders, or he may be a victim of the active working of the aggression boosting hormones. From time to time, like other hobby classes, youth may be advised to attend sessions on such issues. This may give rise to volunteers who may scout to different places and spread the word of good faith. Thus, there is no instant remedy or medicine for such social issues. The populous needs to be trained and educated on such issues through activate and voluntary participation. This is only possible when the awareness for such issues is part of our culture. References Cole, George F. & Smith, Christopher E. (2006). “Causes of Crime”. The American System of Criminal Justice. Cengage Learning: Canada. “Cocaine: Top Ten Most Popular Recreational Drugs”. (2009). Retrieved Apr 11, 2010, from < http://listverse.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/sniffglue2.jpg>. Darrow, Clarence. (2007). “What is Crime?”. Crime: Its Cause and Treatment. The Echo Library: Teddington, 6-8. “Finals and Stress” (2010). TCU Senior Career Conference. Retrieved Apr 11, 2010, from < http://www.parents.tcu.edu/images/stress-main_Full.jpg> Gaines, Larry K. & Miller, Roger LeRoy. (2008). Criminal Justice in Action. Cengage Learning: Canada, Melkonyan, Amalia. (2008). “Causes of Crime”. Retrieved Apr 11, 2010, from < http://www.scribd.com/doc/8376295/Causes-of-Crime>. “Only in America: Should Video Games be Censored?”. (2008). The Week. Retrieved Feb 14th 2008. Regoli, Robert M. & Hewitt, John D. (2009). “The Nature and Causes of Crime”. Exploring Criminal Justice: The Essentials. Jones & Bartlett Publishers: Canada Sullivan, Connor. R. 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