Unit 1: Crime

Crime Home Practice Tasks

Causes of Crime

Factors including poverty, neglect, low self-esteem, alcohol and drug abuse can be connected to why people break the law. Some people are at risk of offending because of their circumstances. We will be looking at the following factors:

Environmental
- Poverty
- Adverse Childhood Experiences
- Gang culture
Psychological
- Addiction
- Head trauma
- Mental Illness

Poverty

Why poverty can lead to crime

Lack of basics (food, housing, healthcare, education).
Fewer opportunities/jobs → desperation or “survival crime”.
More exposure to violence/crime in deprived areas.
Fewer positive role models / weaker links to school success.
Discrimination/stigma → frustration, alienation → anger/resentment.

Poverty, deprivation and Scotland (key stats)

Scottish Government: clear link between area deprivation and experiencing crime.
SIMD measures deprivation using income, employment, health, education, crime etc. (10 levels).
75% of prisoners are from the bottom 4 SIMD deprivation levels.
Crisis report (2014): 41% of single homeless people surveyed had served a prison sentence.

Unemployment and crime

No income → basic needs not met → desperation.
Feeling treated unfairly → anger/responsibility shifts → offending.
Can create a cycle: unemployment → child poverty → higher later risk of offending.
Centre for Economic Performance: youth unemployment strongly linked to increases in violent + property crime.

Environmental: ACEs

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Trauma before age 18 (abuse, neglect, violence, household dysfunction).
Can harm development + mental health → higher long-term risk of antisocial/criminal behaviour.
University of Edinburgh study: tracked 4,300 people with childhood trauma; about 25% had a conviction by age 35.

Gang Culture

What is a gang?

Group of 3+ people with a shared identity.
Creates fear/intimidation and often commits crime.

How gangs identify themselves

Names, slogans, symbols, tattoos, clothing, hair, hand signs, graffiti.

Main purposes of gangs

Criminal activity.
Violence/intimidation to achieve goals.
Protect power/reputation/resources.
Defend members vs rivals.
Control territory/area.

Why gang culture causes crime

Pressure to prove loyalty.
Offers belonging/status/protection.
Normalises violence and criminal behaviour.

Psychological Causes

Key idea

Thoughts, emotions and behaviour link together.
Psychological causes are rarely the only cause — they interact with environment and society.

Common psychological contributors:

Personality disorders, impulsivity, poor self-control
Lack of empathy
Trauma
Substance abuse
Mental health disorders
Peer pressure
Frustration/aggression
Desire for power/control

Psychological factor: Addiction

How addiction links to crime

Impaired judgement + lowered inhibitions.
Violence more likely when intoxicated.
Crimes committed to fund addiction (theft, fraud, dealing).
Impacts relationships, health, employment → can increase offending risk.

Scotland: key facts

Alcohol

42% of violent crime is alcohol-related.
2 in 5 prisoners said they were drunk during the offence.

Drugs

Scotland has very high drug-death rates (about 1,330 deaths in 2021).
2022/23: 26,443 drug crimes recorded by Police Scotland.

Gambling

Around 0.4% of adults (~20,000 people) problem gamblers.
Around 1.5% are at-risk.

Psychological factor: Head Trauma

Why head trauma can lead to crime

Brain injury can affect:
- impulse control
- decision-making
- emotional regulation
Can increase aggression, risk-taking, mood swings.
May contribute to mental illness (depression, anxiety, PTSD).
Can lead to substance misuse as coping.

Key stat

Disabilities Trust Foundation: 47% of male prisoners have a history of traumatic brain injury.

Moral issue

Responsibility/culpability: should people be treated differently if injury reduced control?

Psychological factor: Mental Illness

Mental illness and crime (key points)

Most people with mental illness are not criminals, but some conditions are overrepresented in prisons.
Can affect rational decision-making, impulse control, understanding consequences.
Scottish Government estimate: 2 in 5 people arrested by Police Scotland have a mental health issue.
Some research links schizophrenia/bipolar disorder to a minority of murders (US figures in notes).

Psychopathy (linked concept)

Lack of empathy, guilt, remorse; can be manipulative.
Can appear “normal” due to controlled emotional expression.
Raises questions about danger, responsibility, and rehabilitation.

Famous Crimes

Famous Crimes: Fraudsters

What is a Fraudster?

A person who deceives others for personal gain (usually money).
Uses lies, manipulation and exploitation of trust.
Types: identity theft, scams, fake businesses, Ponzi schemes.

Ponzi Scheme

Investors are promised high returns.
Money from new investors pays earlier investors.
No real profit is made.
Collapses when new investors stop joining.

Bernie Madoff – Key Facts

Ran the largest Ponzi scheme in history.
Promised steady, high stock market returns.
Targeted wealthy individuals, celebrities, charities.
Used new investors’ money to pay old investors.
Stole billions of dollars.
Scheme collapsed when new investment dried up.

How Madoff Manipulated People

Appeal to greed – high returns.
Authority – respected financial figure.
Exclusivity – made it seem special/invite-only.
Secrecy – avoided detailed scrutiny.

Psychology of a Fraudster

Charming, confident, manipulative.
Risk-taker.
Exploits trust.
Strong need for power/status.
Justifies actions (rationalisation).

Famous Crimes: Serial Killers

What is a Serial Killer?

Person who commits multiple murders.
Cooling-off period between killings.
Often follows patterns or victim types.

Personality Traits/Disorders

Antisocial Personality Disorder (no empathy, manipulative).
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (grandiosity, admiration).
Psychopathy (charm, no guilt, impulsive).

Psychological Factors

Childhood trauma/abuse.
Mental illness/personality disorders.
Need for power/control/revenge.
Social isolation or neglect.

Psychological Theories

Biological

Genetic predisposition.
Brain abnormalities (impulse control/emotion).

Psychodynamic

Unresolved childhood trauma.

Behavioural

Violence learned/rewarded.
Exposure to abuse normalises violence.

Cognitive

Faulty thinking.
Lack of empathy.
Justifying violence.

Types of Serial Killers

Visionary – driven by delusions.
Mission-oriented – “cleansing” society.
Hedonistic – pleasure/thrill.
Power/control – domination over victims.

Famous Crimes: Celebrities

Key Idea

Fame, pressure, addiction and mental health can contribute to crime.
Media attention shapes public opinion.
Raises questions about justice and fairness.

Robert Downey Jr.

Arrested multiple times (drug possession, DUI).
Served jail time for probation violations.
Addiction damaged career.
Later recovery and major comeback (Marvel films).
Raises debate about forgiveness and second chances.

Lindsay Lohan

Multiple DUIs, theft charges, probation violations.
Highly publicised legal issues.
Struggled with addiction and rehab.
Media focused heavily on downfall.
Highlights pressure of fame and mental health issues.

O.J. Simpson

Tried for murder (1994).
Acquitted in criminal trial.
Case sparked debates about race, wealth and justice.
Massive media coverage influenced public opinion.

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