Introduction
What makes an individual commit a crime? How best can one understand crime happening in society? Well, the study of criminology enables an individual to evaluate and, in the process, understand the criminal activities while putting into consideration the process of committing those crimes and how to control them within the constraints of the society. Moreover, the study of criminology helps one understand the ways to react to these crimes.
Crime causation
Having completed the majority of my course work in criminology, my perspective on crime causation has evolved greatly. Prior to the completion of my course, I based my arguments and understanding of the early theories drafted by the ancient criminologists, who maintained that there are people who were born criminals while others were not. Currently, I believe that those ancient beliefs are incorrect and baseless.
Furthermore, I have been enlightened in the fact that individuals are not born criminals; thus, one cannot judge a criminal by merely looking at them. Most importantly, the criminologists of today have produced more advanced and detailed theories depicting why people commit crimes. It is evident that presently, there are different types of criminals who indulge in diverse criminal activities; as a result, it is impossible to describe them under one theory.
Hence, they are explained under the multiple theories that have been formulated. Theories such as classical, positivist, individual trait, social disorganization, and many more permit the criminal justice system to classify criminals accordingly. When formulating these theories, I have noticed that the criminologists had the intention of bringing out a better understanding of why certain crimes happen and modes of preventing them. As a matter of fact, my course work has positively and intellectually changed my perspective on crime causation (Kroneberg, Heintze, & Mehlkop 260).
Reasons for committing crimes
It is worth noticing that my course work has changed my basic outlook on the reason why people commit crimes, as I now understand the true intellectual facts about this concept. It is evident that the rate of criminal cases in the United States is increasing each day. As a result, it has been noted that this problem cannot be fixed easily. Consequently, when people experience criminal activities, they usually consult the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
For example, when one is a victim of crime in New York City, it is advisable to seek help from the New York attorneys. The main purpose of an attorney is to assist the victim in dealing with the proceedings in court and other essential legal concepts concerning the crime. Most importantly, crime affects society greatly, and from my criminology course work, I have learned that people get involved in criminal activities for various reasons (Kroneberg et al. 278).
In my course work, I noted that one of the causes of crimes is poor parenting, whereby when children are neglected by their parents, they seem to get involved in crimes in their adulthood. Additionally, poor parenting might involve sexual harassment of the children. As a result, children might develop into sexual predators when they become adults. Moreover, from my course, I managed to realize that peer influence is also a significant reason for one to commit a crime. For example, in schools, students who perform poorly in class might give up on academics and enter into criminal activities.
Consequently, they believe that joining criminal gangs will give them the status and respect they never achieved while in class. Additionally, students from poor backgrounds will also indulge in crime as a way of supplementing what they do not have. This is because they have a notion that when they join criminal gangs, they will achieve material gains so easily (Kubrin, Messner, Deane, McKeever, and Stucky 61).
My course work also enabled me to realize that drugs and substance abuse are also reasons why people commit a crime. It is noteworthy that when an individual is under the influence of drugs and other substances like alcohol, they are most likely to be involved in criminal activities. This is because, under the influence of such substances, an individual might not make the right decisions. Furthermore, those individuals who are addicted to crimes tend to participate in crimes as a way of justifying their criminal activities. It is also essential to note that those individuals under the influence of drugs and other substances are always vulnerable to criminal activities.
The most demining factor is that most crimes in the U.S involve the use of handguns. These handguns are either procured through the black market or stolen. Thus, the easy accessibility of these weapons is also an issue that brings about the occurrence of crime in society (Kubrin et al. 66).
In the research articles that I came across during my course work, I discovered that most of the criminals have a poor educational background. Thus, they are facing poverty and unemployment conditions. Hence, they opt to indulge in criminal activities so as to acquire basic needs. The research also affirmed that even those who are employed do indulge in crimes. This is because the incomes they get from their jobs are not sufficient to cater to their everyday requirements. As a matter of fact, the exposure of children to TV violence is also a reason that makes an individual get involved in criminal activities.
This is because children will tend to emulate what they see on TV. It is also noted biologically by the crime scientists that hot weather results in criminal activities. This is because warm temperatures activate aggression hormones called testosterone and epinephrine. As a result, during hot weather, there are more criminal cases than during cold weather (Kubrin et al. 66).
Criminological theories
The criminological theories that best explain my understanding of crime causation and crime, in general, include the classical theory. This theory was formulated by Beccaria, and it explains that whenever the benefits of crime exceed its costs, crime is most likely to occur. Additionally, it affirms that crimes take place when individuals are seeking self-satisfaction, and at the same time, there is no efficient castigation for the existing offenders.
For example, highway robber might continue to indulge in their crimes in case the police on patrol are not in a position to arrest them. Another criminological theory that I can use to describe my understanding of crime causation is the social disorganization theory. It is evident that this theory was formulated by four theorists who were Shaw Sampson, McKay Sampson, Bursik, and Gasmask.
It affirms that criminal cultures are most likely to emerge in disorganized communities because of the absence of social control, for example, in learning institutions where there is no emphasis on the good discipline of the students as a result of wrangles at the administration level. The students might take that advantage and engage in criminal activities as there will be no one to stop them. The other theory that best explains my understanding of crime causation is the strain theory. It is evident that this theory was formulated by two researchers, namely Cohen Cloward and Ohlin Agnew.
It divulges that in society, whenever individuals fail to meet their goals, there is a likelihood of them responding to this strain by indulging in criminal activities. For example, in normal circumstances, an individual might be striving to own a car. In circumstances where the individual things he cannot afford this car, however much they try, they might result in a robbery so as to earn more money to quickly acquire this car. Thus, his motivation towards the robbery is the urge to accomplish a set goal (Kroneberg et al. 672).
There are a number of theoretical arguments I will use to clarify my perspective to someone holding a different opinion to mine. First of all, with consideration to the classical theory, it is worth noting that human beings are best controlled when strict rules and regulations are put in place. As a matter of fact, when such regulations are not well enforced to the extent that the offenders can go scot-free, it will encourage more people to indulge in crimes.
This is because they will gain more in criminal activities and, at the same time, escape punishment. Similarly, in societies where the laws that govern against crimes are not strict, criminal activity will be encouraged. For example, in communities where those involved in crimes are given lesser sentences in court, the rate of crime will be high as criminals will realize they have more gains than the loss in their activities (Kroneberg et al. 677).
When considering the social disorganization theory, it is essential to note that in any society, there must be order and understanding for people to stay in peace. In societies where there is a lack of organization, criminals are bound to take advantage of the situation to rain havoc on the people. As a result, the motivation factor in such a society is the inadequate social framework to dictate the ways of living. In strain theory, criminals indulge in such activities because they want to achieve a certain goal or status in society. This comes about when the efforts they are putting to enable them to achieve the goal seem not enough.
As a result, they will tend to indulge in crime so as to boost their efforts. This, for example, can be experienced in leadership positions. Whereby, in case an individual wants to occupy a certain leadership position being occupied by another individual, he might end up plotting the murder of the current holder of the position in case he continuously defeats him in the elections (Krubin et al. 2010, p, 79).
Conclusion
Throughout my course work, I have realized that the study of criminology enlightens the student on their previous perception of different concepts concerning the art of crime. These concepts include the reasons why people commit a crime and the different theoretical explanations on the causes of crime. It is worth noting that crime pertains to various actions and the best way to understand it is by using the current criminology theories. Undertaking my course in criminology has enabled me to understand the measures to put in place for purposes of reducing and avoiding crime in society. Furthermore, I have learned how to react to different criminal activities.
Works Cited
Kroneberg, Clemens. Heintze, Isolde & Mehlkop, Guido. “The Interplay of Moral Norms and Instrumental Incentives in Crime Causation.” Criminology 48 (2010): 259–294. Print.
Kubrin, Charis. Messner, Steven. Deane, Glenn. McKeever, Kelly and Stucky, Thomas “Proactive Policing and Robbery Rates across U.S. Cities.” Criminology 48 (2010): 57–97. Print.