Causes of crime Flashcards
Biological causes of crime
Biological sex, mental health, age
How is biological sex a biological cause of crime
Because of hormonal differences, women are less aggressive and violent
Men have mpre testosterone so they are more aggressive and violent
Biological sex example
According the the 2019 SPS survey, 96% of prisoners are male
How is mental health a biological cause of crime
Decision making abilities are impaired so they are more suscetible to peer pressure and gang activity
Mental health example
According to the 2019 SPS survey, 39% of prisoners had been diagnosed with depression before their sentence
How is age a biological cause of crime
Because of the rate that our brain develops, younger people may take more risks without considering consequences
Age example
In 2022, judges were required to consider rehabilitation instead of incarceration for young people because their brains aren’t matured enough to be treated as an adult
Social causes of crime
Peer pressure, drugs and alcohol, ACEs
How is peer pressure a social cause of crime
Peer pressure is associated with people committing crime to fit in
Especially common in tennagers (peak age of offending for low level crimes is 15-17)
Peer pressure example
In 2020-21, 80% of domestic abuse cases had a male accused and female victim
Shows the link between peer pressure and toxic masculinity
How is alcohol and drugs a social cause of crime
When under the influence, people think less about consequences of their actions
People with addictions commit crime to fund them
Drugs and alcohol example
In 2021, 60% of young offenders were under the influence at the time of their offence
How is ACES a social cause of crime?
ACEs lead to deprivation in childhood, common trend in criminals
Children are more likely to be victims of crime when older if they experience “poor parenting”
ACES example
People who experience ACES are 15x more likely to be perpetrators of violent crime
Economic causes of crime
Deprivation, unemployment, greed
How is deprivation an economic cause of crime
People who live in deprivation may tuen to criminality to survive
They may commit “survival shoplifting”
Deprivation example
In Niddrie, over 70% of residents are on benefits and for every 10000 residents, 778 crimes are committed
How is greed an economic cause of crime
Social media and consumerism lead people to want materialistic items that they can’t afford with their level of employment
Greed example
Former SNP MP, Natalie McGarry, was jailed for embezzling over £25,000
How is unemployment an economic cause of crime
Individuals may not have the skills to secure employment, so feel socially excluded
Limited legal opportunities to make money so turn to criminality
Unemployment example
Easterhouse and Castlebrae have some of the highest unemployment levels and highest crime rates in Scotland
