Aspects of Criminology, Causes of Crimes and Prevention of Crimes - Essay Example

Social and economic factors in a person’s life play a significant role in the person’s perception of crime. People from respectable social classes will for example perceive crimes as unethical activities that can lead to loss of social ties with friends and relatives. As a result, these individuals will most likely refrain from involvement in criminal activities. A person with a poor social conscience will however not care about society’s perception of his or her criminal activities. Economic factors are also major causes of crimes. Poverty and unemployment for instance limit people’s capacity to provide for their basic needs and wants. As a result, some people engage in criminal activities to get finances for their needs (Messner, 2001).

Cultural factors, influenced by peer pressure, are other causes of crime in society. Association with groups with rebellious characteristics particularly transforms people into behaviors of such cultural groups. With deviant behavior, a person is likely to disobey law and law enforcement officers resulting in criminal activities. Psychological factors also play a role in a person’s decision towards involvement in a criminal activity. The level of motivation in a person for example defines a person’s objectives and economic initiatives that the individual will engage in. While highly motivated individuals will work hard to develop decent professions, poorly motivated individuals lack the drive. As a result, they fail to establish reliable financial backgrounds and resort to criminal activities for survival. Negative aspects of “social, economic, cultural, and psychological” factors, therefore, cause criminal activities (Messner, 2001, p. 59, 60).

Prevention of crime
Several factors such as “cracking down on crime, education, administration, construction, and correction” prevent crimes (Messner, 2001, p. 60). Cracking down criminal activities, which involves justice against criminals, facilitates prevention by discouraging criminals and other people from involvement in criminal activities. Educating the public on the disadvantages of engagement in criminal activities also prevents involvement in crimes by discouraging criminal intentions and promoting alternative activities to crimes such as enterprising. An administrative role of authorities that includes strengthening structures for controlling crimes is also an effective action toward preventing crimes.  Read More