Question

Sociological Factors and Criminal Behavior

What sociological factors contribute to criminal behavior? The final statement made by mass murderer Andrew Kehoe was, “Criminals are made not born” (1927). Do you agree with statement, why or why not?

Answer 1

The sociological factors that contribute to criminal behavior are:

• The family: The person with disturbed family pattern are tend to develop criminal behavior.
• Neighborhood: The interaction and influence within the neighborhood is an important factor in developing criminal behavior,as , conformity and compliance plays an important role here.
• Education: The system and level education is yet another sociological factor for criminal behavior.Education system supporting radical thoughts of religion or race develops fanatics and radical criminal behavior also people with low education are more predisposed to such behaviors.
• Intelligence: The level of intelligence both high and low are associated to criminal behavior.
• The political ideologies and media also impacts or develops criminal behavior.
• Criminal behavior is mostly seen in people belonging to low income group.
• Criminal behavior is seen in conditions when the rate of unemployment is more.
• Traumatic childhood history is also a contributing factor to criminal behavior.

"Criminal are made not born" the statement made by Andrew Kehoe is partially true because studies have proved that though there are certain genetic traits associated with criminal behavior but it's the environmental and social factors that play the major role contributing to criminal behavior of a person.The person with criminal genetic traits when exposed to negative conditions develop criminal behavior faster than those who do not.