WELCOME to the blog that I have set up for this course, Sociology 220: Criminal and Deviant Behavior. We will be using this blog for a variety of activities this semester, which would include the following:
(1) For what I call "activities and exercises" in the course syllabus, such as the one described below. I may ask you to comment on some a video program I may show in class, on something in the assigned reading, etc.. Among these activities and exercises, you will be called upon to contribute questions for both the midterm and final exams, which will be posted on this blog. I may also use this blog to post descriptions of some of the short essays you'll be writing during the semester.
(2) I may use this blog on occasion to post lecture notes, if I get behind in class, and I will post passages from other sources which I may quote in class. Frequently, I will use this blog to follow-up on a class lecture or discussion to clarify or elaborate on a point I made in class. (BUT PLEASE DO NOT EXPECT THAT I WILL BE POSTING EVERYTHING I COVER IN CLASS ON THIS BLOG.)
(3) There may also be some extra credit opportunities for which I will ask you to post a comment on some outside lecture, film or article that is pertinent to the class.
(4) Finally, you, of course, are welcome to use this blog to comment on or ask questions on anything we cover in class.
When I do post an exercise I will always be sure to mention it in class and ask you to check the blog, but I would also suggest that you get in the habit of checking this blog once or twice a week even if I don't call your attention to it in class. This blog will be an important source that you will need to consult for both the midterm and final exams, not to mention the short essays and paper you'll also be doing.
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FIRST EXERCISE: Before we get into the various theories of criminal and deviant behavior, I'd like each of you to give me some of your own thoughts on this. Briefly state (in a paragraph) your own personal theory or ideas about what leads people to commit crime or why the crime rate may go up or down. This exercise is worth 3 activity points, and I'd like you to post your comment by WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 15TH.
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22 comments:
I believe that the crime rate increases and decreases depending on our current economic and financial situation. I would that crime rates would increase with the people within society are more stressed which could cause them to think and act more emotionally rather than rationally. If people are comfortable and happy with life they probably wouldn't respond to situations as they would if they upset and on edge.
I believe that people commit crimes for a variety of reasons. One reason in particular that comes to mind is what kind of environment the person lives in. If someone is surrounded by others who are committing crimes, it is likely to have an affect on them committing crimes as well. Another reason could be because of how the person is thinking, or rather not thinking. Perhaps the person believes that committing a crime is the best way to get to where he/she wants to be and finds it to be a rational decision. The crime rate is going up all the time now, for reasons I believe to be linked with our economy and financial situations etc.
I think there many different reasons as to why people commit crimes and also I think it depends on the type of crime and their motives. Some people commit crimes because it gives them some sort of adrenaline rush and some people do it for means to survive. Murdering someone or robbing a big is a lot bigger of a crime than stealing food. The people who commit those bigger crimes don't seem to have a since of morals. Many times it is because of how they were raised. If they weren't taught that those crimes are very bad then they're going to be more likely to commit a crime. Some people were raised in a type of environment where crimes were committed on a regular basis so it was a normal thing to them. It's hard to say exactly why people commit crimes because every person is different and has different reasons for it.
There are many reasons why people commit crimes, but I think that the reasons vary a lot depending on the thype of crime. Mental instability, desperation, and stress could lead people to commit crimes. Also, I have read that children of alcoholics, drug users, and abusive parents are more likely to become criminals. This would mean that a bad or traumatic childhood could lead to criminal behavior later in life. Revenge, drug use, anger, or unfortunate financial circumstances could also be motivations. I agree with the posts above in that the economy probably affects crime rate.
Many things can lead a person to commit a crime. Sometimes I believe that it is the background of the person, or where he or she came from. If someone grows up around violence, then that is often all he or she is use to. Other times, violence can be because of a mental issue. The crime rate increasing or decreasing can be because of the type of area people are area. Higher crime rates are usually in big cities or places that have run-down areas as opposed to those places with a lower crime rate.
I believe there are a lot of factors that lead a person to commit a crime. First a person might commit a crime due to peer pressure. If people are pressuring you to do something, you are more likely to do it. Another thing that might lead people to commit a crime is family history. If you grew up in a family that committed crimes, the person tends to develop the same behaviors as their family and might end up committing a crime. The crime rate goes up due to the factors mentioned above. The crime rate might go down if more thought was put into how to stop crime, such as having a class in a community about the consequences of committing a crime.
I think that the reasons behind committing a crime can be a variety of different things. I think that often it has to do with how they were raised, and if they grew up seeing violence or crimes being committed. If crime is what someone has been exposed to for the majority of their life then I believe they are more likely to commit a crime. I think that crime rates fall and rise as the economy and stability of the economy fall and rise. The crime rate also depends on the area in which someone is living, and if the area is more prone to crime or violence.
People commit crimes for many reasons. I think one of the many reasons is desperation. People do things when they are desperate that they normally wouldn't do. Therefore, I think the crime rate goes up and down depending on the amount of desperation in the society. So, when the economy begins to falter, the crime rate rises because people start to do desperate things.
I believe that people commit crimes for a variety of reasons. These reasons vary depending on the type of crime committed. For example, a sexual predator or a person guilty of committing a crime sexual in nature has often been the victim of rape and/or a sexual abuse of some type. In some cases peer pressure plays a role by making the offender believe that by committing a crime they can fit into a group. Still another example can be seen in cases where someone feels as if they have no choice but to commit a crime. In the event a person must choose between breaking the law and survival, invariably it is survival that wins out. Truly there is no one answer to why someone commits a crime, simply a lot of possible answers that changes from individual to individual.
Crime rates are generally an accurate measure of how prosperous societies and individuals are. Crimes are always going to be committed in support of a goal, a goal which the person committing the crime undoubtedly believes to be in his or her best interest. This goal can range from wanting more money to wanting to exact revenge on a cheating spouse or significant other. Logically, crime should increase or decrease along with a society's economic prosperity; however, this is not always the case. Nonetheless, when a crime is committed, it is always committed in what the perpetrator believes to be his or her best interests.
There are probably various reasons that people choose to commit crimes. A common trend seems to be simply out of boredom, especially petty crimes, like property damage, trespassing, etc. Sometimes people, particularly teenagers, tend to break minor laws purely for the sake of being noticed, maybe by their parents, peers or just another person in general. More serious or violent crimes, I think, tend to be the product of rage or personal vendettas. Usually in these cases there is a specific person or group of people being targeted.
However, I think that some crimes are probably committed out of necessity.
Theft is one type of crime that, I think, tends to be the result of an individual’s money situation. That’s why I was so surprised to hear in class today that crime rates have gone down. Given the current economic situation I would have expected them to increase, especially incidents of burglary and larceny.
I think that people commit crimes because they believe that what they are doing is no big deal. Those people that commit crimes (no matter how major the crime) think that its ok to do what they did. They have no conscience about their actions. This lack of conscience could be caused by many different things such as anger, mental problems, or believing they are above the law. Also people committing the crimes could believe that they would be able to get away with it because they think they are better than they are.
There are numerous reasons that people commit crimes. I believe one reason is because of poverty. I think people feel there is no way out of their situation, so they turn to criminal actions such as stealing to improve their quality of life. I also believe this leads to even more crime because children growing up in these families turn to crime just as their relatives might have. In relation to gangs it provides young adults with a sense of belonging and purpose. They are accepted into a family and have a "job" in that family. In areas of poverty crime is usually higher. I don't think crime is the problem I think poverty is, if we could improve conditions I think the crime statistics would decrease.
Criminals have motives. Every action they perform is a chance to reap benefits. For example, petty crimes, such as speeding, have a much greater chance of being beneficial rather than consequential. Arriving earlier to a destination outweighs the possibility of being pulled over. On a more serious scale, however, is the idea that someone who commits a murder isn't thinking about what “may happen” if he/she is caught. They're living in the present, expecting the satisfaction of their crime to “kick in,” during that moment. Family history, personal issues and financial strife also play a HUGE role in why crimes are committed. Crime rates fluctuate because of economical/financial situations due to the stress that it causes individuals and their families. There is no justification for why criminals commit crimes, but there are many signs that point to why they do it.
Motives for criminal behavior vary not only depending on the type of crime, but also the individual situation. A momentary rush or thrill, power, economic factors, self-fulfilling prophecy, mental illness, personal or emotional drives (like cases of “crimes of passion”), and seeking an escape (for example, heavy drug abuse) are some of many possible reasons why an individual commits a crime. Since our very definition of what constitutes criminal and deviant behavior is subject to situational and perspective bias, what truly “causes” crime rates appear to go up and down is also a matter of perception. Media misconceptions can influence public understandings of criminal behavior. For example, news clippings remarking on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina showed African American and Caucasian individuals engaging in the same activity, going through abandoned stores looking for food and other necessary items. The Whites were portrayed as nobly struggling to survive, while the African Americans were described as “looting” stores.
There are many reasons as to why people commit crimes and these reasons differ for each criminal. Criminal behavior is a matter of choices. One reason could be their upbringing. An individual with a rough and tough childhood would commit crimes in order to lash out on their past. Another reason is greed and selfish desire. This person might steal something because he or she thinks that they deserve and or need it. Another is because of financial status. When people are poor, they are extremely pressured and they feel like there is no way out of their financial situation so they result to crime. Other reasons include emotional and mental illness, peer influence, media influence, and drugs and alcohol. I believe that people who commit crimes think that they can get away with it. These people think that committing crimes is a fine thing to do.
People commit crimes for many different reasons, but many are the result of some kind of loss of money or as a result of a loss of a job, loved one, or some other drastic life-changing event. Many people turn to some kind of deviant or criminal behavior when things get hard. They start to steal or express their anger in ways that can hurt other people. The crime rate might go up when the people feel more comfortable with reporting crimes, or when the economy isn't doing well.
Crime happens because of the most fundamental of human psychological traits: want. Save for rare circumstances, we are in a constant state of want, for a better body, a faster car, an in-ground pool in our backyards, vengeance, etc. When situations turn in a way that displeases us, we take action. Many times this is a criminal action. Want of a better physique may lead some to steroid or adderall abuse. Want of vengeance for a real or perceived insult may result in property damage, assault, or murder. Wanting to text while driving leads to vehicular manslaughter. And want of material goods may lead to theft.
[This is David Whitley; I just already had a blog under this name]
Many people define criminal behavior and reasons in different ways but I believe it comes down to two simple reasons, revenge or confusion. There has to be a motive or a lack of understanding in the situation. It is not human nature to commit a crime for a no good reason.
Crimes are never committed without reason, serious intent, or passion, which leads me to believe that all crimes stem from Emotions and the psychological aspect of the brain. Crimes stem from psychological problems, whether it be stress, depression, anger, etc. Crime rates tend to go up when there are problems within people's individuals lives or when there are severe societal problems. Events such as the current depression would lead me to think that there would be an increase in the crime rate.
I believe that there are many contributing factors that cause people to commit crimes. I think that especially in this day in age, economic reasons cause a lot of the crimes, and I think that on top of that there are many emotional reasons that differ from crime to crime and from person to person. Envy, revenge, and hatred are 3 of the top emotions that I can think of that cause people to commit crimes, and these crimes can differentiate from robbery to murder.
As a psychology major I think that people who are exposed to certain "risky" environments are more likely to commit crimes. Communities with low socioeconomic statuses, low levels of education, cities that already have a large rate of crime, and even people with traumatic childhoods are all examples of "risky" environments. I believe that the crime rate goes up or down based on the current economic state of the country because of budget cuts, etc. but also because people might feel the need to commit crimes to make ends meet and continue to support their family. In my social psychology class we also discussed how weather can even have an effect on crime rates. Generally during heat waves crime rates increase because people get highly agitated in hot weather. These are just to name a few reasons why I think crime rates vary over time, but I know there are many more.
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