Many different events and factors can influence the criminal’s behavior and change their behavioral trends and patterns. Many of them come from the offender’s social environment in which they live and operate. Criminal law professionals call these influencing factors environmental influences. Knowing these influences enables a criminologist not only to identify and find criminals faster but also to prevent many other potential crimes. Two environmental influences that can affect offender behaviors will be discussed here.
Upbringing and childhood experience, especially if it was adverse, are some of the primary sources of influence on the offender’s behaviors, habits, trends, and patterns. Recent studies show that “convicted criminals are likely to have experienced four times as many adverse childhood events than non-criminals” (What influence criminal behavior? 2021, para. 4). Childhood is when a young person learns the fundamental norms of human society and the basics of human interaction. A person learning about social interactions through violence and living with abusive parents or relatives has a high probability of carrying such behavioral patterns into their adult life.
The negative and hostile social environment is also capable of influencing the trends and patterns of the perpetrator. This term encompasses a large number of diverse and varying situations. Its definition ranges from the group of people with whom the offender interacts to the place in which they live and their occupation. Researchers note that just living in an area with a high crime rate increases the chances that one will also commit a crime soon (What influence criminal behavior? 2021). It should be mentioned that places with high crime rates are often areas of poverty (What influence criminal behavior? 2021). Poverty has always been one of the big drivers of criminal behavior. A significant part of crime types and trends and patterns of criminals are influenced and led by it.
Reference
What influence criminal behavior?(2021). Walden University. Web.