Causes of crime

• A social cause of

  crime is

  Peer

  Pressure

  This is when someone is forced or encouraged to do

  something they wouldn’t normally do, usually by friends.

  They might know it’s wrong but feel they have to do it to

  impress their friends or remain part of the group.

  For example many young people

  living in deprived areas like

  Easterhouse in Glasgow get caught up in

  crime such as shoplifting and vandalism

  due to peer pressure.
• A social cause of

  crime is Alcohol

  Abuse

  An individual might commit a crime because they have

  been drinking alcohol. Alcohol can lead people into

  doing things they wouldn’t normally do if they were

  sober. It can often make people act more aggressively

  when they drink too much.

  For example nearly half of all violent crimes

  are committed by people who are under

  the influence of alcohol.
• An economic

  cause of crime is

  Poverty

  If an individual is living in poverty with very little money

  then they might commit crime so they can provide for

  their family as they might be struggling to meet their

  basic needs.

  For example survival shoplifting is on the

  increase (up 16%). This is when people

  are stealing essential products due to the

  rising cost of living.
• An economic

  cause of crime is

  Greed.

  Some individuals are never happy with what they have

  in life and always want more. This can lead individuals

  into stealing or committing fraud.

  For example Fraud costs the UK economy

  £130 billion a year
• A biological

  cause of crime is

  Poor Mental

  Health

  If an individual has a mental health condition it can

  make them act in a way they wouldn’t do if they were

  well.

  For example people diagnosed with

  depression are roughly three times more

  likely than the general population to commit

  violent crimes.
• A biological

  cause of crime is

  the “Warrior

  Gene”

  Studies suggest that individuals who have this

  MAOA gene are more likely to

  display aggressive violent behaviour which often results

  in crime.

  For example a study in Finland found

  individuals with the warrior gene were 13

  times more likely to commit violent crime.