Posted: January 2nd, 2023

Crime Causation

5-7 page) research paper, where you will discuss your own views on crime causation. In particular, you will be asked to describe (1) your general thoughts on why people break the law, and (2) the events and processes in your life that have shaped these views. In other words, I want you to provide an explanation as to why your thoughts on crime causation are the way they are (i.e., why do you feel the way you do about the cause(s) of crime?). Use the structure and strain theories from criminology.
Structure theory suggests that crime is caused by social, economic, and cultural factors that shape an individual’s opportunities and life chances. This theory posits that inequality, poverty, and discrimination create barriers and constraints that can lead some people to turn to crime as a means of survival or as a way to attain their goals.

On the other hand, strain theory proposes that crime is a result of the gap between an individual’s goals and their ability to achieve those goals through legitimate means. According to this theory, people who feel that they are unable to attain their goals due to social or economic barriers may turn to crime as a way to achieve their desired outcomes.

In terms of my own views on crime causation, I believe that both structure and strain play a role in determining why people break the law. I believe that social and economic inequality can create barriers and constraints that limit an individual’s opportunities, leading them to turn to crime as a means of survival or to attain their goals. At the same time, I also believe that an individual’s personal goals and desires can contribute to their decision to engage in criminal behavior if they feel that they are unable to achieve those goals through legitimate means.

In terms of the events and processes that have shaped my views on crime causation, I would discuss my personal experiences with inequality and social disadvantage, as well as my academic studies in criminology and sociology. These experiences and studies have helped me to understand the complex social, economic, and cultural factors that can contribute to criminal behavior, and have influenced my belief that addressing these underlying causes is crucial in preventing crime.
Crime Causation
A critical understanding of the causes of crime is imperative in finding lasting solution. Distinct empirical approaches have different theories that try to explain the causes of crime. For instance, sociologists believe that behavior is a product of the environment. Therefore, the deduction is that no individual is born as a criminal. People learn to commit crimes from the influence of others in their immediate environment. On the other hand, psychologists believe that some forms of behavior are a product of genetic disposition. The interpretation is that there are unique physiological and biological attributes that lead individuals to a life of crime. I believe that behavior is a product of both nurture and nature. Crime causation is mostly attributable to environmental conditions but biological factors also play a part in some instances.
Sociological explanations on the causes of crime are more practical than biological factors. From the sociological perspective, it is possible to establish a pattern of behavior in a specific locality that contributes to the high rate of crime (Innes & Innes, 2018: 2024 – Write My Essay For Me | Essay Writing Service For Your Papers Online). For instance, the rate of crime is higher in an environment where drug abuse is rampant. The dependency on drugs demonstrates that the youths in the area an either unemployed or out of school. Therefore, they turn to drugs to pass time. The dependency on drugs then forces them to resort to a life of crime to sustain the behavior. Biological perspectives fail to explain the reason for a drop or rise in the levels of crime.
Biological and physiological causes are difficult to correlate with crime because they relate closely with environmental factors. For instance, in an environment with high rates of crime, if a father and son are in crime, it is difficult to prove a hereditary cause (Innes & Innes, 2018: 2024 – Write My Essay For Me | Essay Writing Service For Your Papers Online). Still, there are several theories in criminology that attempt to examine individual characteristics of criminals. The paradigm of positivism asserts that some forms of behavior are beyond the control of an individual. The point of view differs from the classical belief that human behavior is a rational process. Psychologists assess the mental development of individuals as the main influence of human behavior.
Biological theories of behavior appear in three main types. First, some theories attempt to distinguish individuals based on some inborn features. Secondly, some theories relate behavior to some inherited traits (Mohseni, Latifinia, & Afjeh, 2016: 2024 – Do my homework – Help write my assignment online). Thirdly, some theories focus on the structural and functional differences in individuals. In examining the biological traits linked to crime causation, I think the structural characteristics are more relevant. Crime causation is a difficult field of study and through the years, many scholars have found it hard to narrow down on the main cause of human behavior. Even individuals cannot explain some of their behaviors. Criminal behavior is a conduct that is outside the norm. Some criminals engage in acts that normal people consider as unfathomable. Additionally, there is a wide range of criminal activities and they have distinct causes. For instance, the cause of violent crimes might differ from property crimes.
In the determination of cause and effect relationships, evidence is critical in determining legitimate inferences that one factor might have led to the other (Innes & Innes, 2018: 2024 – Write My Essay For Me | Essay Writing Service For Your Papers Online). To that extent, modern crime studies prefer an interdisciplinary approach to explain behavior. The approach is an acknowledgement that no theory is able to explain the different forms of criminality fully. Additionally, it is also difficult to distinguish moral and legal issues from criminality. The classical point of view assumes that behavior is a matter of choice. From my experience, I lean more towards the positivists’ perspective. The strain and the social structure theories offer good generalizations on crime causation.
Sociological theories on behavior explore the relationships in institutions and groups. To that extent, the theories view crime as consequences of the social structure (Mohseni, Latifinia, & Afjeh, 2016: 2024 – Do my homework – Help write my assignment online). In other contexts, the structural theorists view crime as a product of crime and economic struggles. However, the main emphasize on the social structure theories on crime is on poverty that leads to the lack of education and marketable skills. In the current economic reality, individuals without an education struggle to find dignified and meaningful forms of employment. In that regard, the individuals appear disenfranchised from society and they have to struggle to make ends meet. The temptation to join the world of crime is high and some cannot resist. The social structure theory justifies the involvement of such individuals in crime even though it is not moral.
The social structure theory also narrows down on some subcultural values as causes of crime. The social structure looks into a set of patterns as organized by social institutions (Mohseni, Latifinia, & Afjeh, 2016: 2024 – Do my homework – Help write my assignment online). The relationships formed according to the patterns determine the collective conduct of specific societies. The social structure is a cycle because it is the product of social interaction and it also determines it. The structures might not be obviously visible but they are present in all societies and all dimensions of human experience. The social structures exist in the meso, micro and macro levels. However, in the context of understanding criminality and behavior causation, the macro level is more relevant.
The main institutions recognized by social structures are family, education, religion, economy and politics. The institutions are distinct but they are interrelated. The institutions organized the society and they influence the conduct of individuals (Innes & Innes, 2018: 2024 – Write My Essay For Me | Essay Writing Service For Your Papers Online). The primary pint of influence in society is the family. In the first phase of life, children learn behavior from their family members. The character of family members might pass on to the young members. In the same way, criminal tendencies might rub off to the younger ones. The next point of socialization is the education system, in schools children different family backgrounds interact and they have an influence on each other.
The influence of peers is the main cause of juvenile delinquency. However, different factors might cause delinquency (Mohseni, Latifinia, & Afjeh, 2016: 2024 – Do my homework – Help write my assignment online). Most of the juvenile offenders end up as criminals when they lack adequate correctional guidance. For instance, a minor with a lower intelligence level is at a higher risk of becoming a delinquent. Without the hope of a future in education, a teenager might think of engaging in crime.
The social structure theory also identifies a pattern of factors associated with the family that can lead to criminal conduct. The lack of parental supervision is one of the main factors (Mohseni, Latifinia, & Afjeh, 2016: 2024 – Do my homework – Help write my assignment online). Teenagers’ with absent parents are more at will to do as they wish and they might find themselves involved in the wrong activities. Secondly, ongoing parental conflict might affect the conduct of the children. Children who witness acts of violence in their homes are likely to have the same traits in other environments. Thirdly, parents who do not respect laws and social norms pass on the same tendencies to their children. Teenagers with poor attachment with their children are also likely to engage in criminal behavior because they feel the need to act up to gain their attention.
The social institutions of economy and media also have a significant influence on the behavior of individuals. For instance, some personalities in media hold positions of influence in society. The actions of such individuals structure the society in some way (Innes & Innes, 2018: 2024 – Write My Essay For Me | Essay Writing Service For Your Papers Online). If an individual gained such influence through crime, then other members of society who hold them in high esteem are likely to follow the same path. In particular, the influence is high if there are no systematic deterrent measures for the known crime offenders. A system of reprimanding criminals discourages others from engaging in similar acts.
The strain theory is also highly authoritative in the analysis of crime causation. The theory posits that pressure derived from social factors drives individuals to crime (Mohseni, Latifinia, & Afjeh, 2016: 2024 – Do my homework – Help write my assignment online). To that extent, the strain theory lays an emphasis in explaining the cause of crime among the disadvantages members of the society. The inability to achieve common aspirations is the main trigger of crime according to the strain theory. For instance, individuals whose income is below the poverty levels cannot achieve the common ambitions such as quality education for their children. Such individuals might follow the route of criminal conduct to achieve their goals. The strain theory places most of the blame at society for failing to provide adequate means for all its members to achieve common goals. In the current society, there is an attachment of significant value on wealth and economic prosperity. Individuals who value morals more than wealth creation are largely seen as under achievers.
According to the strain and the structure theory, the immediate environment and other societal factors play a big role in crime causation. The concept of the self does not come out strongly in both theories (Innes & Innes, 2018: 2024 – Write My Essay For Me | Essay Writing Service For Your Papers Online). However, even in hostile environments, majority of the people choose to obey the law regardless of the circumstances. The society today is largely disproportional. Economic inequalities are a common challenge even in the most developed nations. Therefore, if all individuals in a disadvantaged position could choose the path of crime, then most parts of the world could be lawless and unruly.
From my perspective, the factors outlined by the strain and social stricture theory might lead to crime. However, involvement in crime is mainly a personal choice (Mohseni, Latifinia, & Afjeh, 2016: 2024 – Do my homework – Help write my assignment online). For instance, children might grow up in a family with several factors that trigger juvenile delinquency that eventually leads to crime. One of the children might follow the route of crime and the others might be morally upright members of the society. The power of individual choice is the main difference concerning the path taken by children in such a household.
Despite the challenging societal factors the choice to follow the part of crime is an individual decision. The systems of reprimanding criminals do not consider the social factors. Therefore, the onus is on individuals to do what is right. Nevertheless, institutions of governance should provide equal opportunity for all excel. Additionally, social services should intervene to ensure all children are taken through the appropriate means of socialization. Mitigating the triggers of crime can make the world a safer place.

References
Innes, M., & Innes, H. (2018: 2024 – Write My Essay For Me | Essay Writing Service For Your Papers Online). Signal Crimes, Social Reactions, and the Future of Environmental Criminology. The Oxford Handbook of Environmental Criminology, 453.
Mohseni, R. A., Latifinia, A., & Afjeh, S. S. (2016: 2024 – Do my homework – Help write my assignment online). The Effect of Media on Crime: With Emphasis on Pathological Aspects of TV and Internet. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 7(4 S2), 154.

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