Criminal Behavior Research Paper

Introduction

Criminal behaviour is an important topic to study because it is a consistent problem occurring within our society. Instead of focusing solely on the criminal act, criminal behaviour needs to be studied through multiple different perspectives. Different perspectives are able to offer various factors and motivations that can be behind one’s criminal behaviour. This paper argues that criminal behaviour is influenced by one’s social environment and psychological well-being. Understanding criminal behaviour will help to create new solutions and work towards reducing the crime rate in the future. 

Literature Review 

The social environment one is brought up in can greatly impact their criminal behaviour. This is because one’s individual differences can influence whether or not they may commit a crime (Eysenck, 1997). An individual’s differences are created by the social environment around them (Eysenck, 1997). For example, these differences can begin to occur during the child’s upbringing and discipline at school (Eysenck, 1997). If a child has weak social bonds while they are young and this progresses into their adulthood, then they are more likely to engage in criminal behaviour (Sampson & Laud).  Individuals are also constantly affected by society’s norms, beliefs, and values (Hurwitz & Smithey, 1998). There can be different expectations that society places upon men and women which creates different experiences for men and women in regards to their socialization (Hurwitz & Smithey, 1998). For example, women’s lives are constantly influenced by threats of physical violence, especially domestic abuse and rape, whereas majority of men do not have to face this constant fear (Hurwitz & Smithey, 1998). This indicates to us that women are more likely to fear victimization and due to this they are more likely to modify their own behaviours in order to survive (Hurwitz & Smithey, 1998).

An individual’s psychological well-being can also influence criminal behaviour. Different behaviours, such as antisocial and aggressive behaviours, can be due to one’s genetic and these behaviours can have impacts on one’s psychological well-being (Glenn & Raine, 2014). For example, there have been studies conducted on antisocial and aggressive behaviours which indicate that 40 to 60 percent of these behaviours have considerable genetic basis (Glenn & Raine, 2014). Although genetics may play a role in these behaviours, antisocial and aggressive behaviours have been shown to take a toll on an individual’s psychological health which makes them more likely to engage in criminal behaviours (Glenn & Raine, 2014). Mental illness can also affect one’s psychological well-being (Mullen, 1997). For example, it was found that individuals with serious mental illness that have a history of violent behaviour, noncompliance with medications, and substance abuse can be more dangerous to members of the general population (Torrey, 2006). Creating better strategies to help those who are struggling from mental disorders will lead to reduced criminal behaviours and benefit potential victims (Mullen, 1997).

Preliminary Suppositions

Sociological concepts such as gender, race, and class can factor into criminal behaviour. Firstly, gender can factor into criminal behaviour because as mentioned before, women and men are socialized differently which leads to men engaging in more criminal behaviours compared to women (Hurwitz & Smithey, 1998). Secondly, race is another important concept in regards to criminal behaviour because Aboriginals and African Americans are often at higher risks to be suspected for crimes and racially profiled (Tanovich, 2002). Lastly, class is a sociological concept that can influence criminal behaviour because if one is from a lower-social class then they can have different factors, such as low-family income, poor housing, weak social bonds, etc., that may cause them to engage in criminal behaviours later on in life (Besemer, Farrington & Biljeveld, 2013). 

There are a few criminological theories that offer different perspectives in regards to criminal behaviour. Firstly, the social responsibility perspective is relevant to criminal behaviour because it focuses on the belief that individuals make their own choices and should be held responsible (Schmalleger & Volk, 2017).  Secondly, psychological theory offers a different perspective in regards to criminal behaviour because it explains how an individual’s mental processes can influence whether or not they may engage in criminal behaviours (Schmalleger & Volk, 2017). Lastly, behaviour theory can be relevant to criminal behaviour because it focuses on explaining how one’s social environment, such as receiving positive reinforcement when committing an unlawful act, can influence one’s criminal behaviour (Schmalleger & Volk, 2017). 

Conclusion

In conclusion, criminal behaviour is a crucial problem within our society. There are many different factors that contribute towards criminal behaviour, but one’s social environment and psychological well-being are the most important. Studying these two aspects in regards to crime can offer multiple different perspectives and ideas that can help us to understand criminal behaviour and work towards reducing it. If societal forces and psychological difficulties increase one’s chances of engaging in criminal behaviour, then different policies and strategies can also help individuals to overcome these challenges and live a life that doesn’t involve crime and violence.