What Causes Crime?

By Lynn A. Granata

For years many people have been asking this question.

Crime is caused by a complex number of variables.

I have always believed that the most common reason for crime is impulsiveness. 

Criminals are impulsive or they act on impulses more often than those who are not criminals.

For example, a shop lifter may see a dress on a clothing rack and suddenly take a feeling of "I just cannot resist this and I have to have it."

Although she doesn't have the money to pay for the dress, technically.  She feels that urgency gnawing from within. At the moment she isn't thinking about the consequences of what may happen if she goes ahead and takes the dress off of the rack and conceals it under her clothing, then walk out of the store.

She has done it before and she never got caught. This is what gives her the confidence to keep on doing it.

In order for a crime to occur there are 3 elements that must be met, of course don't do it, because it is illegal and it isn't worth losing your freedom over it.

Many department stores have been using warning signs like this one in order to deter shoplifting and to prevent the loss of property and revenue due to store theft.

 Now the 3 elements are:

1.        Opportunity

2.   Desire for a thrilling experience, low threshold of tolerance for regular everyday       mundane tasks-boredom. 

3.      Cost v. benefits of the wrongdoing. Remember, if an individual is anxious to do something wrong, the intent has to be there or they know it's wrong, but they'll do it anyways because they feel nobody will catch them in the act. Thus in this rare scenario, the benefits outweigh the costs.   

The shop lifter took these 3 elements into consideration.

We don't know whether or not if the shop lifter ever got caught, but the thing you must be aware of is that as time goes on, she will eventually get caught, that I can assure you. It's difficult to know why she shop lifts. One or more theories can apply as to answer the why question. 

Kleptomania

Lack of Resources

No money=Poverty

Mental illness         

Different levels of crime connotes different levels of severity. Felonies are more serious than misdemeanors. A felony can result in prosecution and a 3-20 yr. prison sentence.  A misdemeanor carries no more than a 1 year prison sentence.