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level three public services Crime task 2
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- PEARSON (PEARSON)
level three public services Crime task 2
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Task two, approaches that reduce crime, disorder and antisocial behaviourThe sociological theory of criminal behaviour looks into whether society and associates of criminals
are the catalysts that makes criminals commit a crime. Sociologists believe it is organisations and
institutions which influences someone to offend. Another idea is the way that a person is treated
and interacted with will also affect the way that an individual feels and acts. For example, if a
person is abused within their childhood they’re more likely to be aggressive and drawn back from
society. Karl Marx’s theory looked into history, politics and economics to see which crimes were
committed under these influences. He discovered that each class within society commits different
forms of crime, for example citizens in the poorest part of society committed offences such as
petty thefts in order to be able to afford to stay alive, where as the richer proportion of society
committed more dangerous crimes to make it easier for themselves such as participating in the
taking of drugs such as cocaine.
The psychological theory of criminal behaviour focuses on the mental state of the offender and not
society. It looks into personality and what motivates a person commits a crime. A popular
psychoanalytic theory is Freud’s theory. This explains how humans have natural instincts or
inclination to commit an act that is seen as evil or wrong in society. These thoughts and instincts
can be carried out by the person unless they repress these feelings. Freud’s theory includes three
parts which makes up a person’s personality; the superego, ego, and ID. The ID is the only aspect
of personality that can be seen present from birth, it is unconscious and includes human’s primitive
instincts and behavioural traits. Freud believed that the ID is where psychic power comes from and
it is the main component which makes a person’s personality. The ego is the aspect of a person’s
personality that is responsible for how we handle reality and events. Freud said the ego grows and
matures to take over from the ID, the ego develops a socially acceptable response to events such
as when a person is stressed they may cry or feel anger. The ego is present in unconscious,
preconscious and the conscious mind. Finally, the super-ego is the part of a someone’s personality
which gathers individual’s personal morals, these can develop under the influence of relatives,
friends and society, it is how we decide the ‘right from wrong’. The super-ego develops from age of
five and onwards, it provides guidelines of how to judge situations and aspects, for example a child
can become racist if society or their parents are racist.
Casual factors which influences crime
Negative family influence
There are many different influences from a negative family life that can inspire someone to offend.
The absence of a father figure within a family home is one of the largest causes of people to
develop a criminal thought process, boys who have no father figure are three times more likely to
commit crime or go to prison. Sons whose fathers have left the family home between ages of ten to
fourteen are two times more likely to go to prison. Most men who are sent to prison are fathers.
Mothers are also sent to prison, 66% sent to prison are mothers. The number of mothers in prison
has increased by 122%. Another influence is being abused at home. Within family homes children
who were neglected are 4.5% more likely to commit a crime. Girls who were abused are more
likely to be in violent relationships. Children who were abused have committed 26% of murders.
Lack of education
Different incomes can stimulate different categories of crimes, those with higher education benefit
from certain crimes (white collar crimes) i.e. fraud. Those with lower education are more likely to
work jobs with lower income, they value short-term benefits more than long-term. Those who
commit to education for a better paying and self-satisfying career, enjoy their jobs and do not seek
a thrill from criminal activity. Research found the most common crimes to be committed by those
with a lack of education is theft and violent crimes i.e. stabbings, (blue collar crimes). 42% of
prisoners within their childhood had been excluded from school. 1:5 children in custody have a
form of learning disability, and 51% of prisoners have the same level of English as an eleven-year-
old.
Poverty
Having poor physical health can develop due to poor living conditions, this can lead to a stronger
temptation to commit a crime that benefits them such as theft and burglary. Unemployment can
influence individuals to commit crime as they have no source of income so they look for an
alternative source. This could be drug dealing or working for other criminal organisations. Living in
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