Understanding Criminal Behavior: Exploring Social, Biological, and Psychological Theories

Social Theory of Criminal Behavior

According to the Social Theory of Criminal Behaviour, people without education may struggle to find legal work, leading to crime (Shah et al., 2019). Unemployment was another sociological idea of a criminal conduct risk factor. Financial strain from unemployment or underemployment can lead to desperation and crime to meet basic needs. Neighbourhoods influence behaviour. Youth in disadvantaged neighbourhoods are more prone to commit crimes and abuse drugs. This exposure may normalize or need criminal conduct for survival in that setting.

Peer pressure is a significant factor in criminal behaviour; teens and young adults may commit crimes to gain respect from their peers, feel like they belong, or feel accepted (Shah et al., 2019). Robert Merton’s Strain Theory underpins social crime theory. When society’s goals and means conflict, people commit crimes. Due to institutional restraints like poverty or prejudice, people may adopt illegal means to achieve financial or social success.

Biological Theory of Criminal Behavior

The Biological Theory of Criminal Behavior links genetics, neurology, and physiology to crime. Genetic predispositions, neurochemical imbalances, and brain malformations may enhance criminality (Ling et al., 2019). The biological theory emphasizes criminal susceptibility. Genetic abnormalities may increase criminal dispositions, according to criminal heredity studies. Family histories, twin studies, and adoption studies examine how genetics affect crime. These findings may suggest a genetic link to crime, but genetic tendency does not prove it. Instead, genetic and environmental factors interact dynamically.

Criminal behavior is also connected to neurobiological abnormalities, including neurochemical imbalances or brain structure and function anomalies. Serotonin and dopamine changes can produce aggression, disinhibition, and impulse control issues. Criminal behavior may be connected to prefrontal brain or limbic system abnormalities, which regulate decision-making, emotion, and impulse control (Ling et al., 2019). These brain differences may affect risk assessment, impulse control, and decision-making, affecting criminal behavior. However, biological causes of crime should be examined cautiously. Crime and biology are complex.

Criminal behavior may be predisposed to hereditary or neurological features, but environmental factors can substantially influence it. Environmental pressures, childhood experiences, socioeconomic conditions, and peer factors affect criminality and biological predispositions. Environmental and social variables affect the biological hypothesis of criminality (Ling et al., 2019). Biologically, criminal conduct is challenging due to inheritance, neurology, and environment. A holistic approach that addresses and prevents crime must integrate complicated biological predispositions and environmental influences.

Psychological Theory of Criminal Behavior

Psychology explains how personality, experiences, and cognition affect crime. These theories study complex psychological processes that cause crime. Psychology emphasizes personality traits that may lead to crime. Due to a lack of empathy and social respect, antisocial personality disorder is associated with criminal activity. Additionally, impulsivity, aggressiveness, and a lack of empathy are linked to crime. Traumatic situations also affect crime (Fortune & Heffernan, 2019). Childhood abuse, neglect, or violence can lead to maladaptive coping and behaviour. Traumatized people may commit crimes to cope with or regulate their emotions.

According to Freudian psychodynamic theory, early experiences and unconscious tensions influence criminal behavior. Unresolved childhood traumas could lead to adult crime, according to Freud. Unresolved childhood trauma or conflicts may motivate criminals subconsciously. Social learning theory suggests that people learn illegal conduct through observation, imitation, and reinforcement (Fortune & Heffernan, 2019). This idea says deviant role models, peers, and media shape people’s morals. Rewarding crime may encourage it. Psychological factors explain why some people commit more crimes. Importantly, psychological theories are interdependent. Social and biological factors complicate criminal behavior. Psychological insights and other ideas can explain criminal behaviour and develop effective prevention and response tactics.

Comparative Analysis and Determining Primary Contributor

Each viewpoint shows crime’s complexity. According to social theory, poverty, lack of opportunities, and community factors influence crime. Biological theory highlights genetics, neurobiology, and physiology that may predispose to criminality. The psychological theory states that personality, traits, and learned behaviours influence criminal behaviour. The complexity of criminal behavior makes identifying the leading cause challenging (Hagan & Daigle, 2023). These components interacting throughout time cause many crimes. Biological or psychological factors may increase crime and social causes in impoverished areas. The connection between these notions suggests that a multifaceted approach may better explain and address criminal behavior. Putting one hypothesis at the centre may need to be more concise.

In conclusion, social, biological, and psychological factors influence crime. Each theory provides helpful insights, but their combined effects complicate crime. Effective crime reduction requires an integrated approach that includes these views.

References

Shah, N., Soomro, B. A., & Mirjat, A. J. (2019). An Investigation of the Impact of Poverty and Unemployment on Criminal Behaviour among Youths: An Empirical Approach. Pakistan Journal of Criminology, 11(1).

Ling, S., Umbach, R., & Raine, A. (2019). Biological explanations of criminal behavior. Psychology, Crime & Law, 25(6), 626-640.

Fortune, C. A., & Heffernan, R. (2019). The psychology of criminal conduct: a consideration of strengths, weaknesses and future directions. Psychology, Crime & Law, 25(6), 659-674.

Hagan, F. E., & Daigle, L. E. (2023). Introduction to criminology: Theories, methods, and criminal behavior. Sage Publications.