Crime structure
An individual’s engagement in criminal behaviors can be attributed to both his personal as well as social attributes. Whatever an individual grows to believe or perceive within himself- which is mostly based on what he learns in the society, together with the social influence of the sub-culture group engaged, defines whether this individual will engage in criminal behaviors. These factors can, in another way be described as determinism, entailing internal and external attributes whose combination determines who a person is. This is because whatever a person is, is a combination of how the society has confirmed him and his decisions in selecting what to retain and what to reject as offered by the society. (Edward & Curtis,1987).
Societal and personality impact
This gives out another aspect that determines whether the person will end up being a criminal or not: choice. Though society provides a variety of characters to the individuals, it is their role to choose what to take in and what to sieve out. The individual has the capability of determining his behaviors regardless of the social influence he is under. This gives the reason why in a society full of anomalies, it is still found with individuals who have upright morals, and in the same way in a society of upright moral related norms, there are sub-cultures of anomalies. Then why do individuals embark on committing crimes? (Siegel, 2008).
Rational choice theory
The question finds its connection to the theory of rationality or the rational-choice theory. In this argument, it is factual that the offenders base their actions on the gains or the benefits they attain from their activities. If the activity carried out seems to bring more outcomes than what has been instilled in it, the individual goes on to act. If the case is vice versa the offender will likely consider dropping the whole action. Some of the factors that contribute to the decision-making of the offender are based on time constraints, the ability of the information available, agreeing with the offender’s plans as well as the availability of favorable and relevant information. Therefore the whole action of criminality can be perceived to be based on the input-output differences hence making crime a rational phenomenon (Joseph, 2008).
Burglary
For instance, when we look at the case of theft or burglary, the factors surrounding the activity will determine whether the offender will embark on the activity or not. Such as circumstances, situations, as well as the opportunities of success of the activity which all will affect the decision of the offender.
The rationale for a burglary
For example, based on what the offender expects to achieve, he will compare it with the risk that might occur in the process such as the security presence, visible signs of watchful eyes as well as dogs, and the targeted place to the neighbors’ distance among others. If there is a great chance of all or one of these factors affecting his mission he will find an alternative of either abandoning the whole mission or rescheduling it (Junger, 1990).
Violence
In cases of violence-related crimes, the offender will compare his objective of the mission with factors such as the strength of the victim on whom the violence is directed, the likelihood of him being able to escape in case of being overpowered, his ability to use violence which accordingly, he will compare them with the net gain from the incidence. Depending on the more probable side, the offender will calculate his move based on it.
Drugs
In addition, other crimes such as drug use are based on what the individual perceives to be the output or gain. Though a lot of decisions are based on a miscalculation, the victim’s perception is that whatever he is doing will bring out more outcomes than the input (Travis, 2002).
Controlling crime and prevention strategies
Severe sanction implementation, together with community education concerning the effects of crime needs to be employed to the people. Understanding the environmental cause of criminality will help in strategizing ways of preventing crime occurrence by identifying necessary tactics used by offenders.
Conclusion
In conclusion, criminality can have its causes attributed to the intention or the motive of the offender in carrying out the action, what he has learned from previous experiences from himself and others, the availability of hurdles on the mission as well as the offender’s willingness to commit the crime. Accordingly, the consequences and benefit relation determines his decision in performing the crime.
Reference list
Edward, K. M, & Curtis J.B. (1987). Behavioral approaches to crime and delinquency: a hand book of application, research, and concepts. Columbus: Plenum Press.
Joseph, F. H. (2008). Statistic: A tool for Social Research. Boston: Cengage Learning
Junger, M. (1990). Delinquency and ethnicity: an investigation on social factors raleting to delinquency among Moroccan, Turkish, Surinamese and Dutch boys. New York,NY: Brill Archive
Siegel, L. (2008). Criminology: The core. Duluth: Thomson publishing
Travis, H. & John H. L (2002). The craft of criminology: selected papers. Edison: Transaction Publishers.