Does Social Deprivation Relate to Crime?

How often do people think of engaging in criminal behavior? Most people think avoiding criminal behavior is not a difficult task and should be able to be avoided easily. This is sadly not always the case. There are many circumstances and many theories about criminal behavior and the reasons why certain people partake in the actions. Throughout childhood, the chance of a person engaging in criminal behavior later in life can raise because of lack of knowledge of good morals, a high rate of bad circumstances or other struggles throughout their early lifetime.

The lack of knowledge about the correct morals is one very important in determining whether or not a person may engage in criminal behavior later in their life. When a person doesn’t know what is right and what is wrong, they don’t know the limits of what they should and should not do. Learning the moral standards for what is right or wrong is something that many people learn and think of easily, but in a childhood where these teachings are never mentioned, they have no ability to judge what they should be doing. In the article by Lippke, he states “morals are the basis of all knowledge.” Similarly, Ferguson reports “Morals are taught at the beginning for a reason. This is what fuels the beginning of correct choices.” This supports the idea of morals being provided because people truly have nowhere and nobody to look up to. When something bad happens to them, they know no other way to respond. Some people say that even though basic morals were never directly taught to the children, there would still be available role models and some ways for them to learn to do better later in life. Sadly, this is not always the case. In some cases, children live in crime filled cities an...

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...g argument against that query. Childhood in its all is very important and cannot be replaced. Without a successful childhood, teachings and memories in all, crime can be expected to be present for years to follow in the surrounding areas.

Works Cited

Fergusson, PhD, David, Nicola Swain-Campbell, PhD, and John Horwood, MSc. How does childhood economic disadvantage lead to crime?" Journal of Child Psychology & Psychology 45.5 (2004): 956-966. Web. 4 Mar. 2014.

Kawachi, Ichiro, Bruce P. Kennedy, and Richard G. Wilkinson. "Crime: social disorganization and relative deprivation." Social Science & Medicine 48.6 (1999): n. pag. Electronic Journal Center. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.

Lippke, Richard L. "Diminished Opportunities, Diminished Capacities: Social Deprivation and Punishment." Social Theory and Practice 29 (2003): n. pag. Academic Search . Web. 26 Feb. 2014.