Are Criminals Raised to Become Criminals - Research Paper Example

Topic: Are criminals raised to be come criminals? The increasing complexities of society, worsening economic condition, and polarization of families have motivated a number of persons to commit crimes. As number of persons have been jailed and subjected into rehabilitation, question crept amid criminal behaviors analysis if criminals are indeed raised to become criminals? This paper will argue that criminal behavior is not genetically (Alper, 1998) motivated but rather, circumstances influenced by environmental factors pushed persons to commit crimes. It is generally understood that a child is conceived, born, and raised to become significant persons in a society. No parent would want to see his child behind bar and serving sentences as judicial penalty for an offense committed. No parent wishes to see his child undergoing rehabilitation program to complete behavioral reformation before he will be mainstreamed back to the society. Family, as a basic agent for child’s growth, development and success, always wanted to see children nurtured with discipline to make them responsible and accountable persons. It’s an outright social deviancy and completely out of norms to see parents teaching their children to become skillful criminals. Forensic experts understood that criminals are forced by circumstance to commit crimes due to influences and circumstances prompting them to assume unacceptable and illegal behaviors. As earlier interposed, a number of persons become criminals because they suffer poverty and are unable to meet their basic needs. Others are motivated by anger and hate out of a given situation while some are driven by ideological constructs to hold arms and rise against state by sowing conflicts and crimes. Experts posit that criminal behaviors cannot be generally and accurately assumed as their psychological features differ. Some of them are calm and others are distinctively temperamental. There are criminals perceived intelligent while others are not. Psychologists argue that criminal behaviors are caused by variety of factors ruling on persons’ cognitive and emotional sides leading to aggressive behaviors. Biologists assumed that criminal behavior is genetically obtained from hardcore chromosomal aberrations but this remains a challenging position that needs to be restudied for validity (Alper, 1998). They however interpose that neuro-chemicals, like dopamine and serotonin, in human body can inspire criminal behavior as these chemical reactions allegedly can cause aggression and psychopathic behavior (Alper, 1998). A person’s offensive actions, as pointed by sociologists, is fueled by developing circumstances within the offender’s immediate environment e.g. family, peers, social groups, media and poor moral development (Saberi, 2009). Psychologists explained that social influences sometimes nurtured aggressive criminal behaviors toward their parents and society (Saberi, 2009). Those encouraged to adopt this behavior against their parents and friends has high tendencies of becoming an offender. Such behaviors are observed whenever a child used shouting and crying as ways of asserting a need. Although crying and shouting per se is not a criminal act but if children misunderstood this as the best pattern to generate support and attention, the child may perceived that the best options in attaining responses for needs is through aggression and violence. Discipline with sensitivities is therefore very significant to curb the attitude of a child for moderation. Exercising extreme control and according them too much liberality can indeed destroy proper social and moral development of the child (Saberi, 2009). This is because the child’s immediate environment and culture is considered as agents of behavioral changes where their personalities are anchored or associated. Good behaviors and attitudes should be modeled within the home’s confines so that children will grow up with temperance and sense of responsibility hence, discouraging violent tendency and criminal behaviors (Saberi, 2009). Otherwise, rearing a child within violent and aggressive environment will develop a high probability of engendering the same negative values in their psyches. It’s for this reason that children and youths can adopt alcoholism and join groups or fraternities with gangsterism as alternate value (Saberi, 2009). With the fast deterioration of family in complex urban communities and development of regions infested with conflicts or violence, children and youths misperceived that a disruptive family and carrying weapons to extol an ideological construct are cool and okey (Saberi, 2009). If they are able to adapt this ideation and examples, criminalities among youths and children would be doubly rampant. It is therefore significant that children should be molded with proper education, discipline, knowledge and good culture. They should be guided with toward proper option and be shaped with good personality (Saberi, 2009). Another factor associative of criminal behavior is personality disorder. Psyschopath have certain psychological disability and capacity for extreme aggression. Although there are many causes of anti-social behaviors and cognitive derangement but some offenders’ attitudinal patterns have shown cases of irritability that may result to the commission of heinous crimes (Saberi, 2009). However, not all psychopaths are illustrating extreme aggressiveness but they can demonstrate actions that can inflict violence to others albeit they have an escapist tendency because of their psyche-made unreal realities (Saberi, 2009). Thus, explains why they are sometimes prompted to steal and kill believing that this is right within the hazy world they created. Sometimes, criminal acts are perceived part of a dramatic moment from a different mental state (Saberi, 2009). Others, in a state of depression, confusion and too much isolation could commit crimes against self. This is true in some suicide cases. Poor moral motivation can also lead to commission of crime. If a person lacked the necessary moral to withstand life’s pressure and odds, they might be unable to conform to social norms and social standards, hence commit crimes by delinquency and displaying irrational or negative behaviors (Corno, 2012). Psychologists however contend that there are specific instances when a person, though educated on moral development, can still engaged in criminal acts. Nonconformity to social norms and standards could be a result of hindering the enculturation of moral values within the child or youth’s developmental stage. Such truncation of moral development can possibly lead to deterioration of values and ergo, cause criminal tendencies (Corno, 2012). Psychoanalysts argue that children and youths should be supported for their moral reasoning development and must be immersed in values of Godliness and the social norms or conventions to deter them in adhering to anti-social behaviors. Psychologists argue that persons with incomplete moral development often adapts deviant behaviors, delights with nonconformity and loves gaining distinction from commission of crime (Corno, 2012). In conclusion, let it be emphasized that society does not tolerate raising children and youths as social menace but rather as significant beings that can contribute to social development and cohesion. It’s however unfortunate that there are social conditions which perpetuate the situation of violence, marginalization and poverty can push a person to commit crime. This is further aggravated with the fast dissolution or deterioration of family structures that subject a child to isolation and thus, forced them to find comfort from peers who could potentially lead them astray. It’s recognized that the role of family is significant to enforce sensitive disciplining to make children and youths lawful and be molded with religious values. It is however significant that there are crimes committed not because it’s motivated by criminal designs but because of mental disorders. These necessitate some facilities with medical experts that can assist them toward normalcy. Added to this is the necessity to develop institutions that are supportive of children and youth’s well-being and that could encourage their participation to extol their rights for education, moral development, and peaceful environment. This could veer them away from vices and aggressive peers that might influence them to commit unlawful acts and socially unacceptable behaviors. Crimes and criminals are therefore not only the concern of law enforcers but also of family, community and of national or international institutions advocating children’s rights and welfare. The family will take part in the disciplinary measures and must ensure that children or youths are able to avail formal education. Community must implement programs for children or youth’s welfare. Government agents must likewise provide proper facilities that could assist families with psychopath members. Children and youths convergence should be encouraged for them to enjoy positive collaboration for their welfare. Rehabilitation facilities should be established to rehabilitate youths with deviant behaviors and acculturate in them positive values. Let them be nurtured with strong faith so that they can become responsible persons determined to surmount the challenges of life. References: Saberi, R. (2009). The Psychology of Crime. EzineArticles. WI, USA. Corno, L. (2012). Peer Effects on Criminal Behavior. Evidence from the homeless. Norface Discussion Paper Series 2012015, Norface Research Programme on Migration, Department of Economics, University College London, London. Alper, J. (1998). Genes, free will, and criminal responsibility. Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 46(12), pp. 1599-1611. Read More