Factors affecting definition of crime and criminal behaviour

1. Factors affecting definition of crime and criminal behaviour

2. Criminal behaviour is defined by what is in statute law.

3. Causes of Criminal Behaviour • Social factors • Economic factors • Political Factors • Differential association theories • Self interest and greed • Genetic factors

4. Social • A person’s peers and social status can influence their behaviour

5. Economic • Wealth provides choice and quality of life, therefore there is great pressure to own, and to achieve a high material standard of living

6. Political • A person maybe influenced by the views about the government or have an opposing ideology

7. Differential association theories • Based on the theory that criminal behaviour is learned and is a normal adaptation to the environment in which the offender lives • Anomie theory • Offender is socially alienated and therefore operates outside social norms • Subculture theory • Where an individual is accepted by a group whose value system is not that of mainstream

8. Genetic theories • In the past it was believed criminals were born, not made. Eg skull size and shape • Some scientists have claimed that men with an extra male, or Y, chromosome (XYY) may be more likely to commit criminal acts than the general population • The most can be said that some people commit more crimes than others because of their genetic makeup