Causes of crime

Question 1

What are the 3 causes of crime?

Answer 1

Biological
Economic
Social

Question 2

What are the biological causes of crime?

Answer 2

Brain Type
Gender
Genetics

Question 3

What is brain type?

Answer 3

• Amygdala and Prefrontal Cortex are not developed
• People have different types
• They feel no empathy

Question 4

Example of brain type

Answer 4

Aaron Campbell who killed 6 year old Alesha MacPhail on the Isle Of Bute was labelled a psychopath

Question 5

What is gender?

Answer 5

• Men are more likely to commit crime than women
• Men are more aggressive
• Men have higher testosterone levels

Question 6

Example of gender

Answer 6

Men commit 88% of all Scotland’s crimes and 96% violent crimes

Question 7

What is genetics?

Answer 7

• Genes are passed making you more likely to become an offender
• People’s nature
• warrior gene

Question 8

Example of genetics

Answer 8

BBC study found that those with the “warrior gene” are 13 times more likely to commit a violent crime

Question 9

What are the economic causes of crime?

Answer 9

Unemployment
Poverty
Greed

Question 10

What is unemployment?

Answer 10

Those who are unemployed may not be making enough money to afford a desired good therefore they may commit a crime to get money in order to afford it

Question 11

Example of unemployment

Answer 11

Two thirds of prisoners were unemployed before entering prison and 17% had never had a job

Question 12

What is poverty?

Answer 12

People who live in poverty may wish for desired goods for a better lifestyle therefore they may commit a crime to get the goods that they want

Question 13

Example of poverty

Answer 13

Half of Scotland’s prisoners come from the poorest 10% of areas

Question 14

What is greed?

Answer 14

White Collar criminals are people who have a professional or an office job and commit crimes

Question 15

Example of greed

Answer 15

Former MP Natalie McGarry despite earning over £70,000 a year stole £20,000 that was meant for a food bank

Question 16

What are the social causes of crime?

Answer 16

Peer Pressure
Alcohol and Drug misuse
Lack of education

Question 17

What is peer pressure?

Answer 17

When people commit crimes in order to fit in with a crowd of people and are influenced by those around them

Question 18

Example of peer pressure

Answer 18

3500 young people have joined 1 in the 170 gangs in Glasgow

Question 19

What is drug and alcohol misuse?

Answer 19

When people are under the influence they lose sense of what is right and what is wrong and don’t know what they’re doing

Question 20

Example of drug and alcohol misuse

Answer 20

50% of violent crimes have involved someone who is under the influence

Question 21

What is lack of education?

Answer 21

Someone with no qualifications is more likely to commit a crime as they have no job and there is also a link between lack of education and crime

Question 22

Example of lack of education

Answer 22

52% of men and 71% of women in prison have no qualifications