Social and Biological Reasoning Behind Crime

There are many theories for why criminals are criminals. These theories have been developed, changed, and even thrown out over the years. Each one has been contradicted and reaffirmed, until eventually there is a consensus for both biological and sociological reasons which would explain why a person would act criminally or participate in a criminal act/behavior. I argue that the most relevant theories to answering why a person would do these things are social disorganization and neurological factors, specifically testosterone levels in males.

I am going to argue that social disorganization is the best way to explain crime from a sociological standpoint. Shay and McKay developed the theory, which stated that social disorganization could be traced to conditions specific to rural areas that the lower class could afford to live in. They studied the lifestyles, discovering that there was a high rate of turnovers in homes and that there was a mix of ethnic backgrounds. One article written about their study states, “...key facts about the community correlates [crime] and delinquency...” A short statement, however it was one that would be built upon and challenged for years to come. It was proven that an unstable environment, such as where a person would be living next month or if they could afford food, could lead to an unstable home life which could then encroach into other aspects of a person’s life. The article also states that there are several variables to this theory to make it an accurate one that should be respected. “Residential instability, ethnic diversity, family disruption, economic status, population size, and proximity to urban areas influence a community’s capacity to develop and maintain strong systems of social rela...

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...ological and sociological, and evaluating the pros and cons, I stand strongly behind my decision that social disorganization and the neuro-chemical factor of testosterone do affect a person’s likelihood to become a criminal. I would also argue that I believe the sociological affect is a stronger push towards criminality or not, but also that it is easier to treat a sociological disorder. Biological disorders, even if you can predict them, cannot necessarily be prevented. It can also become labeling if you pre determine if someone will be a criminal based on certain hormone levels. Sociological issues are easier to handle because you can reason with a person, reintegrate them, and can provide certain drugs to help them handle anger, depression, and impulsivity. Both biological and sociological are large factors, but one is easier to diagnose and treat than the other.