Causes of Crime: Why People Break the Law

Biological factors play a surprising role in criminal behaviour. The MAOA gene, sometimes called the "warrior gene," can make men more aggressive and violent - people with this gene are 13 times more likely to have a history of repeated violent behaviour.

Mental health issues affect around 70% of UK prisoners. When someone's mental state is compromised, they might struggle to think rationally or understand the consequences of their actions, making crime more likely.

Economic pressures drive many people to break the law. Poverty forces some individuals into crimes like burglary and shoplifting just to afford basic necessities - around 1 million people in Scotland currently live in poverty. On the flip side, greed motivates wealthy people to commit fraud and money laundering, with Scottish courts seeing £21.2 million worth of fraud cases in 2019 alone.

Social influences are equally powerful. Drugs and alcohol cloud judgement, with 62% of UK offenders under the influence of alcohol and 26% under the influence of drugs when they committed their crimes. Peer pressure particularly affects young people, with one in three Scottish youth claiming they've been pressured to drink alcohol.

Quick Fact: Gang culture creates expectations for criminal behaviour - the first half of 2018 saw 80 gang-related murders as members tried to "earn their spot."

Unemployment creates a perfect storm for criminal activity. Without jobs, people lack money for essentials and may turn to crime out of both necessity and boredom - 22% of unemployed benefit claimants have committed crimes at some point in their lives.