Causes of crime

Question 1

Upbringing

Answer 1

If a child has been brought up in a criminal neighbourhood or by a criminal family, then they may not regard criminal activity as a negative thing. It would be their way of life

Question 2

Poverty

Answer 2

Someone may commit a crime because they see this as the only way to survive

Question 3

Greed

Answer 3

People commit crimes because they might be jealous of those who have more money or better possessions than themselves. As a result, they turn to crime

Question 4

Hate

Answer 4

Someone may steal from, or damage the possessions of the person they dislike. They may also physically harm the person, or someone they love.

e.g. Steven Lawrence was beaten to death because he was black

Question 5

Addiction

Answer 5

When people are addicted to a certain activity. They could be addicted to drugs, gambling etc. This means that they sometimes have to commit crimes in order to feed their addiction

Question 6

Mental disorders

Answer 6

Some mental disorders mean that the criminal has no empathy and will never understand that they have hurt someone, or what they did was wrong. Also, some individuals with learning disabilities are very gullible and easily lead, which could lead to this individual committing a crime for someone else

Question 7

Protest

Answer 7

Some people deliberately break the law as a form of protest.

e.g. the suffragettes committed arson, smashed windows and damaged paintings in their campaigns for women’s rights.

Martin Luther King & Steve Biko held illegal gatherings of protest