CRIME - Causes And Thories Flashcards
What are the topics of this essay?
Biological factors
Social factors
Economics
Biological factors ARE a casue of crime
gender can play a part.
This means that men are more likely to commit crime.
Evidence of this is that according to the SCJS, in 2017, 77% of violent crimes in Scotland were committed by men.
Biological factors are NOT a casue of crime
women are just as capable of committing crimes as men.
Evidence of this is that according to The Guardian Newspaper, in some UK cities, the number of female arrests increased by 50% from 2015 to 2016.
Social factors ARE a casue of crime - 2 points
1- if you are under the influence of alcohol you are more likely to commit a crime due to reduced inhibitions.
Evidence of this is that according to SCJS almost half of offenders reported being under the influence of alcohol at the time of their offence in 2017.
2- a person’s upbringing can increase their chances of committing a crime.
Evidence of this is that according to the University of Bangor, Wales, those who have at least 4 ACEs are 20x more likely to have been in prison at any point in their life.
Social factors are NOT a cause of crime
young people who have had a difficult upbringing such as a parent with substance or alcohol abuse issues are able to overcome the possibility of ending up in a life of crime.
Evidence of this is that the Scottish Government says “not all children who experience multiple ACE’s become perpetrators of violence in adulthood.”
Economics are a cause of crime, 2 things
1 - Morton’s strain theory:
people who have less, crave more; resulting in crime.
Evidence of this is that Merton’s theory identified the state of anomie. This highlighted the argument that desire leads people to crime. This is highly concentrated amongst poorer areas.
2- the level of poverty has clear links with the likelihood of criminal conduct in a neighbourhood.
Evidence of this is that a study from Edinburgh university in 2015 showed that a third of communities with the highest rates of crime are in the top 20% of areas with the highest levels of unemployment.
Economics are NOT a cause of crime
an area with higher levels of unemployment might have more crime locally, with residents unable to afford security measures for their homes.
Evidence of this is the likelihood of being a victim of any crime in 2019-20 was higher for those living in the 15% most deprived areas of Scotland (SCJS).
