Crime And The Law #2: Causes Of Crime Flashcards
“Explain why some may be more likely to cause crime.” (6)
One reason why some people are more likely to commit crime than others is that they have had an adverse childhood experience (ACE). This means that some people are made likely to commit crime as a result of trauma and/or neglect. Evidence of this is that those with 4 or more ACEs are 20 times more likely to have been incarcerated at any point in their life (gov.scot).
Another reason why some people are more likely to commit a crime than others is due to greed. This means that people with money or in a corporate job sometimes want more money, so they steal funds from their company. Evidence of this is Coleen Muirhead, who stole around £1.5million from her employer and splurged on luxury cars and holidays. (2023)
“Describe, in detail, the biological factors that may cause crime.” (6)
One biological factor that can cause crime is being male. This means that men have higher levels of testosterone than women so they are more likely to be aggressive and commit violent crimes. Evidence of this is that in 2019 73% of violent crimes in Scotland were committed by men.
One biological factor that can cause crime is by being neurodivergent. This means those with conditions such as ADHD may struggle in life which may lead to a life of crime. Evidence of this is that Young et al. (2018) found that 25% of men in prison in Scotland had ADHD.
One reason why some people commit crime as a result of economic issues is because of greed. This means that some people who commit fraud do it out of selfishness rather than need. Evidence of this is Jurgen Whitehouse, who abused his role of IT services boss at Ofcom to defraud them out of £500,000 and was sentenced to 2 and a half years in prison as a result.
Another reason people commit crimes as a result of economic issues is because of their socioeconomic status. This means that in a deprived area young people may be bored and lack opportunity to help them see a good future for themselves. Evidence of this is the Kirkton (Dundee) riots that took place on Halloween 2022 that were caused by a significantly large group of youths.
One reason why some people commit crime as a result of economic issues is because of greed. This means that some people who commit fraud do it out of selfishness rather than need. Evidence of this is Jurgen Whitehouse, who abused his role of IT services boss at Ofcom to defraud them out of £500,000 and was sentenced to 2 and a half years in prison as a result.
Another reason people commit crimes as a result of economic issues is because of their socioeconomic status. This means that in a deprived area young people may be bored and lack opportunity to help them see a good future for themselves. Evidence of this is the Kirkton (Dundee) riots that took place on Halloween 2022 that were caused by a significantly large group of youths.
“Describe, in detail, the social factors that may cause crime.” (6)
One social factor that causes crime in the UK is gangs. This means that young people want to be part of gangs because it brings them a sense of family, community, and security that they may not get at home. Evidence of this is that there are 27000 children identified as gang members in England as of 2019. (Statista)
One social factor which causes crime in the UK is Alcohol. This means alcohol abuse is linked to many crimes in the UK, especially in Scotland due to lack of self-control or self-awareness when under the influence. Evidence of this is that alcohol is linked to around 39% of violent crimes in the UK.
