Why do individuals commit crimes?

Why do people commit crime? The reasons vary from social and those as a result of the economic conditions that an individual is going through. Certain people also have got psychological issues that prompt them to do such things. The genetic make up of people could also make them desire

As suggested by Helfgott (2008) there are many behavioural theories that have been pondered over as to why people commit crime however no single theory gives us the solution.

Biological Biological explanations propose that the criminal behavior is the result of the individual’s defective biological makeup. Neurological abnormalities have been the central focus in studies examining criminal behavior. In one particular study (Raine et al., (2002) – Brain Dysfunction), the brains of convicted murderers, who all pled not guilty by reason of insanity, were compared to those of a control group. The conclusive results showed that the murderers had “reduced activity in areas of the brain such as the prefrontal cortex, thalamus, hippocampus and the left side of the amygdala, which are all linked to violent behaviour.” (Raine, (2002). This study supports a deterministic approach and positions a criminal as being born this way, thus making it natural for him to commit the crime.

Examine and assess the usefulness of one of the following theories of crime and deviance in terms of explaining crime and the social problems in modern society.

Both of these theories have had a long-term influence on the current Criminal Justice System. Which were so significant throughout the 20th and 21st century because they introduced effective new strategies for the system to implement in order to deter criminal and deviant behaviour. However, both of these concepts are restricted by their inability to regard important aspects of the alternative theories. In order to highlight the influences and long-term impact on contemporary society, the key concepts of each theory will be outlined before delving into the influences and limitations, concluding with the long-term impact on the current system and understanding of crime and offending.

In this week reading highlight a number of theories, in which offenders are typically committing crimes. My selection is routine activity-theory. The reason for the selection is that it covers a broad aspect as to why theories routine crimes occurred. An example is when vehicle burglary is reported and in almost 9 out of 10 it could have been prevented if item was not left in plain view. Besides, other aspects are the offenders’ determination to commit their crimes, and precisely vulnerability and insufficient protection probably play a huge part as well. Every offender may have a unique motivation as to why he or she breaks the law. However, a common motive is to get money from stolen property. Furthermore, poor neighborhood and lack of opportunity

After spending a lot of time learning about crime theories and what motivate some to offend and engage in crime I believe the Strain Theory is the best theory explain why most people engage in crime in the United States. Unlike other countries in America every person is expected to make a progress in their life and the society and even someone's family wont accept him/her as a good person unless they work hard and exceed in their life regardless. That is why many take education as a way to reach their goals and make a progress in their life. However; with the high cost of education and the mental abilities it required many find an easier way to succeed and make a progress by engaging in crime. People, media, and even Hollywood

Personal Theory of Crime There are many reasons as to why someone may commit crimes. No two people are exactly alike so I don’t believe there is a “one size fits all” theory of crime. You have to assess people on a case by case basis to really understand why each person commits crime. There may be more than one factor in some person’s case that contributes to why they committed a crime; Factors such as, peer influence, family situations, financial situations, mental disorders, and sometimes religious beliefs or cultural differences. These to me are categories most reasons people commit crimes may fall under.

Intro The search for causes of crime forms the basis of most criminological studies. There are numerous explanations for crime: psychological, evolutionary, genetical,

People commit crimes for various reasons. These various reasons got to do with social, economic, and cultural reason. These factors trigger an individual to do criminal activities. Social reasons are peer pressure, and school failure. Economic reasons are poverty. Cultural reasons are hatred. The combination of these factors is behind a person who commits crimes.

Throughout history people have tried to explain why a person would commit crimes. Some consider a life of crime better than a regular job—at least until they are caught. (© Bettmann/Corbis)

What makes people want to commit crimes? Are criminals any different than us? Does committing a crime mean there is something wrong with you, such as a psychological problem? Do all criminals have the same kind of personality? Is a criminal born or made? Questions like this and many more will be elaborated on throughout this paper.

For centuries, the one plague that human civilization faces is a disease that has no evident cure - crime. Before one can even try to find solutions for it, one must understand what a crime is and the nature of crime. Crime itself is defined as any offence harmful against

Crime has been a pressing issue in society for many years and criminologists have been aspired to discover ways in which to explain people’s action, specifically criminal activity. To try and find a solution criminological theories are created and applied to individual experiences/situations. In this