WHY DO WE COMMIT CRIMES? All adults at some time or another commit a crime, sometimes by accident, but why do some people intentionally commit crimes? Here are some theories that try to explain the causes of criminal behaviour. 1. No one knows why crime occurs. The oldest theory, based on theology and ethics, is that criminals are perverse persons who deliberately commit crimes or who do so at the instigation of the devil or other evil spirits. Although this idea has been discarded by modern criminologists, it persists among uninformed people. 2. The idea that some people commit crimes because of biological factors has a long tradition. This theory suggests that criminals are born, not made. It was developed in the 19th century by the Italian criminologist Cesare Lombroso, who believed that crimes were committed by persons who are born with certain recognizable hereditary physical traits. Among the things he considered important were skull and ears shapes, colour of the hair and the eyes, etc. Although experts today no longer believe this, they argue that human behaviour can be linked to an individual's genes. Studies of adopted children who show criminal behaviour suggest that their behaviour is more similar to their biological parents' behaviour than their adoptive parents', showing a genetic link. 3. Many prominent criminologists of the 19th century stated that a person's surroundings such as poverty, lack of privacy and poor sanitation influence their behaviour. These conditions engender feelings of deprivation and hopelessness and are conducive to crime as a means of escape. More modern scientists point out thatjust as children learn good behaviour from their parents, so children can learn bad behaviour from their families and friends. It is a vicious circle, as one expert states: "Problem children tend to grow up into problem adults, and problem adults tend to produce more problem children." 4. Studies of the 20th century investigators indicated that about one-fourth of a typical convict population is psychotic, neurotic, or emotionally unstable and another one-fourth is mentally deficient. These emotional and mental conditions do not automatically make people criminals, but make them more prone to criminality. Recent studies of criminals state that emotional disturbances may lead to criminal behavior. 5. The central idea of this theory is that crime is a career decision, an alternative way of making a living. The theory argues that most criminals are rational people, who know what they want and the different ways of getting it. They are able to balance the risks of committing a crime, such as going to prison, against its benefits, ie what they gain if they aren't caught. The conclusion is: if there are more benefits than risks, do it, but if there are more risks than benefits, don't do it. 6. Since the mid-20th century experts have inclined to the so-called multiple causation theory. They reason that crime springs from a multiplicity of influences biological, psychological, cultural, economic and political. The multiple causation. explanations seem more credible than the earlier, simpler theories. An understanding of the causes of crime is still elusive, however, because the interrelationship of causes is difficult to determine. To protect its citizens laws are made to regulate human behaviour and the State provides crime prevention policies, remedies and sanctions if the laws are broken. However, research is continuing into people's motivation for committing crimes, because understanding this may help us apply the correct punishments for crime. With more knowledge, it will be easier to prevent crime and to help criminals to lead a more useful life.13. Answer the following questions: 7. What are the latest views on the causes of crime? 8. What theory, do you think, best explains the causes of crime?