The Causes Of Crimes

“It isn’t a crime, unless you get caught,” says the same person getting their mug shot taken later that night. Often times, people decide to commit crimes because they believe they can get away with it, or they simply do not care about what consequences they may face. Criminal behavior is not something inherited, but rather, something that can be learned by an individual. Crimes can be committed by just about anyone intending or willing to break the law. There can be many reasons people choose to commit a crime, such as for pure enjoyment, peer pressure, or being under the influence and making that irrational decision.

The motives behind someone committing a crime may vary, depending on the situation. For example, a vengeful ex-boyfriend

Many times throughout history, you will see on the news that people with similar traits to one another committed crimes on a large scale, whether minor or flat out heinous. With crimes such as school-wide shootings and mass killing sprees, people can easily point a finger at unaccepting peers, violent behavior as a young child, or even peer pressure from their own friends with a desire for wild adventures. Despite what the reason is behind committing a crime, in the end, that individual still acted foolishly in the situation, rather than taking a step back and considering the consequences. One theory states that many people determine if someone is a criminal or not, merely based on what society believes about the offender and socially accepted norms, while another theory claims that criminal behavior is learned from others, and favoring criminal behavior over noncriminal comes from experimenting with both on different levels (Batten). In groups of friends where the majority are smokers, and only a few do not smoke, those few would be seen as defiant by the majority (Tittle). This defiant attitude can also apply to planning a group attack; if a few people in that group do not want to do it, but attack

Many times, people who come from broken homes and a rough childhood wound up stuck in a dangerous lifestyle. Without the guidance, love, or care from any type of parental figure, it can be difficult for one to differentiate right from wrong decisions. Socioeconomic status and family structure are both key factors that lead to criminal activity, possibly even starting such actions at a young age (McCord). If the parents are not showing any compassion or regard for their own child, this can cause the child to feel distant. They try to grab their parents’ attention in any way possible in order to at least make it known that they feel neglected. With less attachment to parents, the child does not experience a proper way to be raised, nor do they understand their limits and restrictions when it comes to the law. Since they have no one to guide them throughout the early stages of their life, they are left to succumb to abominable habits, such as early drinking, smoking, and a rebellious attitude. In some cases, although a child has both parents, they might learn and attain criminal behavior by watching their parents’ actions (McCord). Parents that have a negative influence on their child with their own reckless behavior should be held accountable for raising them in such a toxic environment. The child may desire the thrill of shoplifting because