Crime has turned out to be a growing trend, and evidence suggests that there are growing factors that place individuals at the risk of being involved in criminal offences. A high rise in criminal activities raises very puzzling questions like what led a person to partake a criminal act. Being able to explain why people commit a crime is essential to handle the high rate of crime. There are some theories that strive to explain the reason why people turn out to be outlaws and engage in crime. Understanding these principles will unveil a strategy for coming up with the effective solution for solving these crimes about what has caused an individual to be involved in crime in the first place (Hagan, 2012).
Crime is part of human nature which is influenced by the biological, sociological, psychological and economic aspects as well. The biological theory on the causes of crime focuses on the idea that there is a high connection between the role of hormones, evolutionary factors, brain structures, physical body and inherited genes which influence an individual in criminal behavior. Through understanding in the field of biology, it has been noted that environmental pollutants, low serotonin activity, particular genes, malnutrition and neurological deficits can accelerate a person’s biological propensity for crime.
The Biological Theory
The biological theory of a criminal behavior can either be influenced by the inherited character or the environment. On the natural side, crime is seen as a development process that starts before birth and continues through an individual’s life. It is intertwined in the genetic and personality aspect as well as family and community well-being which play a role in shaping someone’s character. In this theory, we get to understand that though the biological factor tends to be more significant, the social aspect tends to take over as time goes by (Knepper, 2001).
Psychological Theory
Psychologically, we can explore the relationship between crime and cognitive development, personality and social factors. The method is embedded inside different degrees of focus such as the family, societal and group psychology. The psychology detects that a child’s criminal behavior can be as a result of roles played by parents which include neglect, abuse, parents own anti-social or criminal behavior, attachment, and child-rearing practices. The theory also labels crime to be orchestrated by people who are characterized by no sense of guilt, no sense of right or wrong and no subjective conscience. Their anti-social behavior makes them have trouble forming relationships with people as well as empathy with anyone (Knepper, 2001).
Sociological Theory
Containing a wider theoretical perspective, the sociological theory views crime as a social phenomenon which puts more emphasis on the social and cultural elements of criminal behavior. It emphasizes on the social structure such as language, class, ethnicity and criminal conduct. The theory further suggests that most people would commit a crime were it not for the morals instilled on them by institutions such as schools, workplace, churches and families. The theory highlights the relationship between crime and social inequality that is influenced by social disorganization in a community and influence by peers. Through the theory, there is a connection of crime with failure to achieve social success and criminal sub-culture (Hagan, 2012).
Throughout the paper one can deduce that crime is as a result of various outcomes that can be interconnected from birth, biologically, social structure and even the environment upbringing of an individual. These factors play a significant role in curving someone’s character to join criminal activities and have a sense of right and wrong.
References
Hagan, F. E. (2012). Introduction to criminology: Theories, methods, and criminal behavior.
Knepper, P. (2001). Explaining criminal conduct: Theories and systems in criminology. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press.
