Causes And Theories Of Crime

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

• According to the Oxford dictionary, crime is an act or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law.
• In order to determine the extent to which criminals are born rather than created by society, it will be argued that while biological causes are valid and can lead to crime, it’s certainly not the main factor, whilst economic factors will also be looked at, social causes will be the most dominant factor.

Question 2

Biological - success

Answer 2

• The argument that criminals are created by society is right to a certain extent, as biological causes of crime contribute to violent crimes.
• This is because Hans Brunner discovered the ‘warrior gene’ which is linked to aggression and a higher risk of committing crime.
• For example, Blas Yepez who was responsible for the death of an elderly man, was then later proven to carry the warrior gene, and blamed this for his violent action, which was taken to the supreme court in Mexico in 2018 according to apnews.com.

Question 3

Biological - success analysis

Answer 3

• Arguably, this shows that in the case of Yepez the warrior gene argument was legitimised as it was taken to court and was taken very seriously.

Question 4

Biological (warrior gene) - further success

Answer 4

• Furthermore, evidence has found those with the gene are more likely too commit crime
• This is shown by the study conducted by the University of Wisconsin, who studies 400 boys who had the mutation and experienced abuse in childhood.
• For example, the university found that the boys who had the mutation experienced abuse in childhood, 85% had gone to commit crimes.

Question 5

Biological (warrior gene) - further success analysis

Answer 5

• Arguably, this shows that people with the warrior gene who in conjunction have had an adverse childhood experience are significantly more likely to commit crime.

Question 6

Biological (warrior gene) - evaluation

Answer 6

• In evaluation, biological causes of crime are important to a certain extent. - This is shown by the fact that people who carry the warrior gene have a higher risk of committing a violent crime, such as Yepez.
• This suggested evidence is further confirmed by the research of University of Wisconsin who found that people with the gene and had an adverse child experience are at a much higher risk of reoffending, yet it is the social cause of crime that Wisconsin highlighted it needed to be in place, and therefore what social causes of crime are the most significant.

Question 7

Economic - dishonesty

Answer 7

• Whilst biological factors are a cause of crime, economic cause of crime are also important, this can be seen in a crime of dishonesty.
• A crime of dishonesty is an offence in which a criminal may take advantage of a situation to benefit them financially and may often involve theft or fraud
• In addition, ex-MP Natalie McGarry, embezzled over twenty thousand pounds, which was meant to be used for a woman for independence campaign in 2015.

Question 8

Economic - dishonesty analysis

Answer 8

• Arguably, this shows that economic causes of crime are prevalent across the UK as people who are in positions of power such as McGarry feel the need to commit crime for more money, alongside the over 1 billion pounds defrauded from HMRC.
• Albeit social factors are more important.

Question 9

Economic - unemployment

Answer 9

• Another economic related cause of crime is unemployment.
• This means there is a correlation between the amount of crime and the level of unemployment.
• Evidence of this is gov.Scot said in 2019, Glasgow had the highest Model based unemployed estimates with 5.9%, They also realised that in 2019, Glasgow had the highest crime rate with approxiamelty 450 crimes per 10,000.

Question 10

Economic - unemployment analysis

Answer 10

• Arguably, this shows the rate of unemployment has a direct relation to crime rates, explained by gov.scot with the example of Glasgow which had the highest unemployment and crime rate of all cities in Scotland.

Question 11

Economic - evaluation

Answer 11

• In evaluation, economic factors for crime exist to an extent.
• We can see that it does contribute with the direct link with the larger the unemployment the more crimes occur, such as in cities like Glasgow.
• Furthermore, crimes of fraud have also become more prominent within powerful members of society such as McGarry, nevertheless, it is the society in which we live which allowed this to continue.

Question 12

Social - alcohol

Answer 12

• One social cause of crime in the UK, especially in Scotland is alcohol.
• This is because alcohol can make people behave violently and aggressively
• Evidence shows that in Scotland 46% of violent crimes is alcohol related, according to Scottish crime and justice survey in 2018/2019.

Question 13

Social - alcohol analysis

Answer 13

• Arguably this shows alcohol is a crucial catalyst for crime and contributes to almost half the cases in Scotland.

Question 14

Social - alcohol in society

Answer 14

• Furthermore, alcohol is arguably embedded into UK culture and therefore it’s a vital social cause of crime.
• This is because the UK has a culture of binge-drinking where being loud, aggressive and displaying antisocial behaviour is considered normal.
• Evidence shows that in Germany, the highest consumer of beer in the world, the rate of alcohol related public violence incidents is between 26% and 43% compared with the UK which is 50% according to the office of national statistics in 2019.

Question 15

Social - alcohol in society analysis

Answer 15

• Arguably this shows that our cultural expectations of what is a normal behaviour to conduct yourself whilst under the influence of alcohol in particular can encourage and almost excuse crime whilst consuming alcohol in the UK.

Question 16

Social - evaluation

Answer 16

• In evaluation, whilst alcohol can influence people to make impulsive and dangerous decisions such as committing crime due to the fact, they are not in a sound state of mind, it may not be the leading cause of crime. It is proposed that this cause of crime is the result of cultural trends.

Question 17

Social - Mertons theory

Answer 17

• Whilst the idea that criminals are born rather than created by society is valid to a certain extent it is social causes of crime which explains why people turn to crime.
• This is Merton’s theory, which is sometimes referred to as anomie which is a collectivist theory of crime which contends that individuals commit crime when there is a lack of opportunity and chances to do well.
• An example of this is in England and Wales June 2023, 25-39 year olds make up 49% of the age profile of prisons.

Question 18

Social - Mertons theory analysis

Answer 18

• Arguably this shows that due to Merton’s theory younger people cannot achieve certain goals and standards within society without turning to crime to achieve them.

Question 19

Social - strain theory

Answer 19

• Furthermore, those living in poverty
  are more likely to experience a condition he called anomie.
• This is because they may have a feeling of alienation because they want the same things as everyone else but lack the means to get there by ‘acceptable’ ways such as employment or education.
• Evidence of this is people in poverty re more likely to break the law in order to achieve ‘success’, or to reject the socially approved goals For example, problem drug use is most common amongst those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Question 20

Social - strain theory analysis

Answer 20

• Arguably, this shows people who are facing poverty may attempt crime in order to achieve the same ‘success’ as those not living in poverty or may embrace non-socially approved goals.

Question 21

Social - strain + Merton evaluation

Answer 21

• in evaluation, the strain theory provides sustainable evidence to support the idea that criminals are created by our society, rather than born a criminal.
• whilst this theory shows that almost half of 25-39 make up the age profiles of prison, still doesn’t take into the account of those of whom have committed white collar crimes.
• Nevertheless, those living in poverty are more likely to experience anomie and will want to experience the same luxuries in life as those not living in poverty.

Question 22

Conclusion

Answer 22

• In Conclusion, social factors are indeed the main reason criminals are created rather than born as although due to biological factors the ‘warrior gene, which is linked to aggression can sometimes make someone at higher risk of committing a crime, such as Yepez in 2018 who blamed the murder he committed on him having the warrior gene.
• Nevertheless, economic factors can also be a reason for criminal behaviour as dishonesty is an offence in which a criminal may try to benefit financially from as situation such as ex-MP Natalie McGarry who embezzled over twenty thousand pounds even though she was someone in a high position.
• Nevertheless, Social causes are the dominate reasons for a criminal as alcohol can make people behave violently and aggressively and therefore can lead them to commit a crime, evidence of this is in 2018/19 46% of violent crimes in Scotland were alcohol related.
• Mertons theory is another social cause as to why criminals are created by society as some people who live in poverty may use crime to enhance the opportunities they have.
• In conclusion, overall society is the main reason for the creation of criminals more so than people being born criminals.