Why Do Some People Commit Crimes and Others Do Not? - Essay Sample

Introduction

The term crime refers to actions that violate the laws of the land. A crime is an offense that calls for punishment by relevant authorities such as institutions that constitute the criminal justice system (Schiller, Black, and Murphy, 2012). Some of the terrifying crimes committed by criminals are theft, assault, homicide, rape, kidnapping, arson, and terrorism. In any given society, there exist law-abiding citizens as well as non-conformists who act in breach of the regulations that govern the state. Different motivations drive people to become wrongdoers, yet others manage to adhere to rules. Studies have come up with various frameworks that seek to understand and explain why some members of the community violate the law while others do not. The struggle for survival, stress factors, ignorant on proper ways to attain wealth, poor parenting, and social stratification cause desperation that pushes some people to go against personal and social codes of conduct, thus committing crimes.

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When lawbreakers commit evil deeds, they disrupt the standard way of life in society. Their actions have far-reaching effects on individuals, the community, as well as the nation at large. The actions of lawbreakers negatively impact the economy and harmonious co-existence in societies (Schiller et al., 2012). After committing a wrong deed, perpetrators have to face particular consequences. Some may end up facing life-altering decisions in the courts while others may end up hiding from the justice system. Besides, victims of crime also face a rough time coping with the tragic experience. Violent crimes such as rape and homicide have profound mental implications for the victims. They can lead to psychological issues such as guilt, fear, anger, depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Strain theories attribute crime to specific stress factors that cause people to develop negative emotions that drive them towards a life of crime. Robert Merton, the first proponent of the strain theory, advanced that the social and economic structure of a given society can pressurize citizens to violate the law. The pressure comes from the need to achieve widespread success. A culture that defines success as the possession of material wealth and financial security sets an unrealistic goal for its members (Jang and Rhodes 2012, p. 179). Thus, it portrays attainment of monetary success as a reward for legitimate effort and hard work. Strain theories argue that individuals who strain to legitimately attain the socially acceptable standards of success resort to criminal coping.

When the social structure fails to differentiate proper and improper means of attaining prosperity, it increases the probability of people adopting crime as a means to become rich. Some of the elusive goals that define financial security include owning a decent home, a car, nice clothes, and the ability to afford access to top quality social amenities. In such a case, the difference between criminals and law-abiding people becomes evident as they pursue the realization of these targets. While working towards these objectives, some people opt to use the socially acceptable paths (Jang and Rhodes 2012, p. 176). For instance, they relentlessly pursue education hoping to secure employment and earn a high salary. By operating within the confines of the rules that govern a nation, this group of citizens utilizes available resources and opportunities to realize prosperity conventionally.

Due to social stratification, there exist different classes in society. Individuals that belong to the middle and upper classes have an advantage unlike their peers in the low category. The wealthy individuals have access to facilities and opportunities that reduce the strain they experience as they pursue their life goals. On the contrary, lower-class citizens do not have this privilege. For them, the probability of achieving the set standards of accomplishment is low (Jang and Rhodes 2012, p. 178). Thus, becoming successful through honest and legal means is a challenge. Hindrances such as the inability to afford fees negatively impact the acquisition of educational empowerment. Besides, lack of basic needs and the struggle for survival affects their attitudes towards the existing structure. They develop negative emotions and the desire to exploit alternative, illegal approaches to meet their needs.

According to the strain theories, people turn to crime due to the feelings associated with the failure of attaining respect in society through legal approaches. Straining to become prosperous while others do not have to struggle a lot, creates resentment that leads to deviance against the system. Hence, crime becomes a coping mechanism and an applicable method of fighting for survival or economic freedom (Jang and Rhodes 2012, p. 180). A derivative of the original theory such as the general strain framework provides additional insight into a crime that does not lead to economic gains. For instance, anger caused by negative stimuli such as child abuse can drive one to become a violent criminal. Thus, committing a violent crime becomes a coping mechanism for the individual as it makes them feel powerful and in control.

Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis theory attempts to explain why behavior differs from one person to another. His explanations operated on the basis that structure and mental functions hidden away from consciousness influence the structure of one's personality (Perlman and Brandell n.d, p. 55). Due to the impact of these influences, individuals develop distinct traits. Freud attributed human behavior to subtle motivations that motivate people to pursue different paths in life. He came up with a topographical model of the mind that outlined the layout of the brain and various functions of the three primary levels. According to Freud, the unconscious mind plays a significant role in determining and shaping the behavior of a person. Thus, the hidden events and desires stored in the unconscious mind govern an individual's conduct.

The psyche, which is a detailed structural model of the mind, comprises of three crucial elements that distinguish the personality of a criminal from that of a responsible citizen. The three critical entities are the Id, the ego, and the superego. The psychoanalytic framework posits that the Id operates at the unconscious level in line with the pleasure principle (Perlman and Brandell n.d, p.65). Human beings have basic desires that reduce immediate gratification. Thus, the role of the Id is to satisfy these needs as they arise. The second element, the ego, exists to ensure that the satisfaction of human needs takes place in a socially acceptable manner (Perlman and Brandell n.d, p. 65.). The Id operates on instinct while the ego functions based on the reality principle. The superego, on the other hand, acts on the morality principle. It ensures that human beings adhere to set moral standards.

The Id component of the human mind consists of two primary biological instincts, namely the Eros and Thanatos. Eros refers to the life instinct. Human needs in this category include thirst, hunger, sexual impulses, and survival instincts. Gratification of these needs sustains life (Perlman and Brandell n.d, p.55). The general expectation is that every person strives to satisfy these needs through legal methods. Permissible approaches include pursuing legal sources of income. Individuals who succeed in gratifying their needs through legal means do not turn to crime. However, those who are unsuccessful instinctively resort to illegal means to indulge their urges and desires. For instance, the urge to eat and survive can lead an underprivileged person to engage in a robbery. Possessions gained from the crime get sold, and the money is used to purchase food.

Thanatos refers to the death instinct. According to Freud, Thanatos is present in all human beings, but Eros overpowers it. The death drive influences personality that determines how people project behaviors such as aggression and violence (Perlman and Brandell n.d, p.44). The death instinct controls participation in risky behaviors associated with loss of life such as murder. Individuals who cannot control their desire to engage in activities related to death tend to project undesirable traits to other people. Thus, they may unconsciously take pleasure in participating in violent crimes that harm others. As a result, people with a strong passion for self-destruction become criminals while those with a stronger desire for survival avoid doing wrong.

Apart from the influence of these elements on the development of a person's personality, moral principles acquired during early childhood impact criminality. Freud acknowledges the significance of childhood experiences on behavior (Perlman and Brandell n.d, p.69.). Human beings possess an inherent wish to obtain what they desire by all means necessary. However, the methods used to fulfill human desires vary depending on the learning acquired when one is a child. The parenting style impacts the acquisition of moral principles by a child. Poor parenting inhibits adherence to social conventions that govern society. In such scenarios, the individual cannot control natural impulses (Perlman and Brandell n.d, p. 43). Such a person goes ahead to satisfy their needs without regard for the welfare of others. The inability to regulate or tame their urges leads them to commit grave deeds such as theft or rape to gratify their desires. On the contrary, persons who can control their impulses understand the value of rules and do not engage in crime.

August Aichhorn, a Neo-Freudian, made a significant contribution to criminology. As one of the instrumental figures in psychoanalytic education, he had a wide range of experience while working with delinquent children (Galatzer-Levy and Galatzer-Levy, 2007, p.160). Aichhorn advanced that while human behavior is a result of multiple causes, delinquency is a sign of failure in healthy development. He identified misconduct in the learners as a precursor to antisocial behavior in adulthood. Children learn morally acceptable conduct as they socialize with others in the school setting. Interruption of the learning process leads to the development of delinquency that manifests itself upon aggravation. According to Aichhorn, issues such as truancy and theft are signs of undesirable behaviors (Galatzer-Levy and Galatzer-Levy, 2007, p.159). Therefore, punishing the teenager does not help or change behavior. Instead, punishment only suppresses it.

Aichhorn identified primary characteristics that distinguish wrongdoers from people who do not participate in criminal activities. One of the predisposing traits that steer some people to break the law is the yearning for the immediate satisfaction of one's wishes (Galatzer-Levy and Galatzer-Levy, 2007, p.159). The ability to subdue one's desire to achieve instant gratification differentiates criminals from obedient citizens. A person who cannot control the emotional disturbance caused by their wishes chooses to express it through unacceptable approaches. Such a person will use illegal methods to meet their needs. The need to gratify their desires overwhelms them. An individual who can appease their urges can exercise patience and exploit right options as they seek to satisfy their wishes.

While the reasons that motivate criminals to disregard the law are different in each case, most incidences are an outcome of relationship difficulties. Therefore, the nature of relations that people develops in society shape one's personality. Problems that arise in these interactions serve as motivation for prioritizing one's needs over striving to sustain excellent relationships (Schiller et al., 2012). When a person p...