Why are there crimes

This is another major reason for crime rates increasing every day. In countries where there is economic deprivation of even the basic rights, it is common for people to rebel and transition into doing notorious activities. Furthermore in small communities it is common for people to engage in fights over land, property, wealth etc.

Especially during election campaigns, it is common for angry people to destroy cars, houses and properties to tell the government how cruel they can be if not entitled to their rights. People who are not served justice become hostile and often engage in crimes. Though most of the courts of law try to do their best in the light of available evidence and all, but sometimes the innocent are proven guilty in the court which compels them to show the ugly side of their personality to the world.

As many as thousands of people blame the judicial system as unfair and commit crimes. Many often kill the members of the winning party when justice is not served to them. In many developing countries, it is common for people in small communities to kill each other based on simple issues.

Lastly, we would like to conclude, it is crucial to stay away from crime. The world is completely blind in separating needs from desires. Even if you have less money for survival, you must be happy with it instead of willing to contour yourself in the pool of crime.

Sign in. Log into your account. Forgot your password? Password recovery. Recover your password. The causes of crime are complex. Poverty, parental neglect, low self-esteem, alcohol and drug abuse can be connected to why people break the law. Some are at greater risk of becoming offenders because of the circumstances into which they are born. Individualists tend to focus on personal weakness as the reason a crime is committed. If someone chooses to offend, that is their responsibility and if caught, they should suffer the consequences.

Who is this guide for? We value your privacy. Understanding Why People Commit Crimes. Forensic Psychology B. To learn more, check out the infographic below.

Crime Statistics Although 70 percent of Americans believe the overall U. Crime Rates There were 7. Violent Crime There were 1.

Potential Factors Influencing Criminal Behavior Individuals engaging in criminal behavior are typically influenced by a combination of various biological, psychological, and social factors. Biological Factors Individuals exhibiting antisocial behavior may have an underdeveloped or damaged prefrontal cortex, which is the reasoning part of the brain responsible for self-control.

Sociological Theories Researchers have proposed various theories examining social and environmental factors that influence or drive individuals to commit crime. Psychological Theories A key psychological theory is behavioral theory, which postulates committing a crime is a learned response to situations.

Role of Forensic Psychology in Criminal Justice As more research is conducted to understand the criminal mind, forensic psychologists will be able to apply these findings to aid the criminal justice system in understanding and prosecuting delinquent behavior.

Identical twins have the exact same genetic makeup. Researchers found that identical twins were twice as likely to have similar criminal behavior than fraternal twins who have similar but not identical genes, just like any two siblings. Other research indicated that adopted children had greater similarities of crime rates to their biological parents than to their adoptive parents. These studies suggested a genetic basis for some criminal behavior. Prisoner in California being prepared for a lobotomy in At the time, many psychiatrists believed that criminal behavior was lodged in certain parts of the brain, and lobotomies were frequently done on prisoners.

With new advances in medical technology, the search for biological causes of criminal behavior became more sophisticated. In psychologist Robert Hare identified a connection between certain brain activity and antisocial behavior. He found that criminals experienced less brain reaction to dangerous situations than most people. Such a brain function, he believed, could lead to greater risk-taking in life, with some criminals not fearing punishment as much as others.

Studies related to brain activity and crime continued into the early twenty-first century. Testing with advanced instruments probed the inner workings of the brain. With techniques called computerized tomography CT scans , magnetic resonance imaging MRI , and positron emission tomography PET , researchers searched for links between brain activity and a tendency to commit crime. Each of these tests can reveal brain activity. Research on brain activity investigated the role of neurochemicals, substances the brain releases to trigger body activity, and hormones in influencing criminal behavior.

Studies indicated that increased levels of some neurochemicals, such as serotonin, decreases aggression. Serotonin is a substance produced by the central nervous system that has broad sweeping effects on the emotional state of the individual. In contrast higher levels of others, such as dopamine, increased aggression. Dopamine is produced by the brain and affects heart rate and blood pressure. Researchers expected to find that persons who committed violent crimes have reduced levels of serotonin and higher levels of dopamine.

This condition would have led to periods of greater activity including aggression if the person is prone towards aggression. In the early twenty-first century researchers continued investigating the relationship between neurochemicals and antisocial behavior, yet connections proved complicated. Studies showed, for example, that even body size could influence the effects of neurochemicals and behavior.

Hormones are bodily substances that affect how organs in the body function. Researchers also looked at the relationship between hormones, such as testosterone and cortisol, and criminal behavior. Testosterone is a sex hormone produced by male sexual organs that cause development of masculine body traits.

Cortisol is a hormone produced by adrenal glands located next to the kidneys that effects how quickly food is processed by the digestive system.

Higher cortisol levels leads to more glucose to the brain for greater energy, such as in times of stress or danger. Animal studies showed a strong link between high levels of testosterone and aggressive behavior.

Testosterone measurements in prison populations also showed relatively high levels in the inmates as compared to the U. Studies of sex offenders in Germany showed that those who were treated to remove testosterone as part of their sentencing became repeat offenders only 3 percent of the time. This rate was in stark contrast to the usual 46 percent repeat rate. These and similar studies indicate testosterone can have a strong bearing on criminal behavior. Cortisol is another hormone linked to criminal behavior.

Research suggested that when the cortisol level is high a person's attention is sharp and he or she is physically active. In contrast, researchers found low levels of cortisol were associated with short attention spans, lower activity levels, and often linked to antisocial behavior including crime. Studies of violent adults have shown lower levels of cortisol; some believe this low level serves to numb an offender to the usual fear associated with committing a crime and possibly getting caught.

It is difficult to isolate brain activity from social and psychological factors, as well as the effects of substance abuse, parental relations, and education. Yet since some criminals are driven by factors largely out of their control, punishment will not be an effective deterrent. Help and treatment become the primary responses. Conforming to Merton's earlier sociological theories, a survey of inmates in state prisons in the late s showed very low education levels.

Many could not read or write above elementary school levels, if at all.