🚫| 2. Causes of Crime

Question 1

Social Causes of Crime

Answer 1

• Alcohol
• Drugs

Question 2

Economic Causes of Crime

Answer 2

• Government Spending Cuts
• Deprivation

Question 3

Biological Causes of Crime

Answer 3

• Genetics
• Sex

Question 4

Social Causes of Crime:

Alcohol

Answer 4

• One cause of crime is alcohol.
• Possible side effects of acohol include loss of inhibitions and less awareness of risk, which can make people more likely to engage in fights and confrontations - this ultimately leads to violent crime.
• For example, Alcohol Focus Scotland reported that 42% of violent crime in Scotland is alcohol related.

Question 5

Social Causes of Crime:

Drugs

Answer 5

• One cause of crime is drugs.
• Although posession and dealing of drugs is a crime in itself, consumption of drugs can cause behaviour changes which can make people more likely to commit violent crime or theft to fund their drug habits.
• For example, in 2017 38% of Scotland’s prisoners said they were under the influence of drugs when they committed their offence, and 15% said they committed their offence for drug money.

Question 6

Economic Causes of Crime:

Government Spending Cuts

Answer 6

• One cause of crime is government spending cuts.
• In recent years, the UK government has cut back on funding into public services such as the police, which means that less criminals are being caught and there is a lack of deterrent for committing crime.
• For example, between 2010 and 2019 police numbers fell by over 20,000 in England and Wales, and from 2011 to 2020 knife crime rose by 51%.

Question 7

Economic Causes of Crime:

Deprivation

Answer 7

• One cause of crime is deprivation.
• Deprived areas tend to have higher crime rates, which can be linked to people perhaps turning to crime in desperation as they cannot afford necessities, or turning to alcohol and drugs as coping mechanisms which can be a cause of violent crime due to behavioural changes.
• For example, 18% of people living in deprived areas said they had been a victim of crime compared to the Scottish average of 12.5%.

Question 8

Biological Causes of Crime:

Genetics

Answer 8

• One cause of crime is genetics.
• There is evidence to suggest that certain genes, such as the MAOA gene, make people more likely to commit violent crimes if other factors like childhood trauma or alcohol usage are in effect.
• For example, studies have shown that people with the MAOA gene are 13 times more likely to commit violent crime.

Question 9

Biological Causes of Crime:

Sex

Answer 9

• One cause of crime is sex.
• Men are significantly more likely to commit crime in the UK which can be down to various factors -biologically men have more testosterone, which has been linked to agression and violence. Social expectations of men can also be a cause, as these expectations often include excessive drinking, taking risks and engaging in fights.
• For example, in 2021-22 women made up only 4% of the average prison population in Scotland.