Causes of Crime

Social causes hit close to home for many young people. Peer pressure plays a massive role because teens are naturally testing boundaries and want to fit in with their mates. When you're desperate to be accepted, joining gangs like the 'Young Pilton Derry' or 'Young Leith Team' might seem like the answer, even if it means breaking the law.

Your upbringing shapes who you become more than you might realise. Growing up in homes where abuse and neglect are normal creates lasting trauma that often follows people into adulthood. This damaged foundation makes turning to crime feel like a natural response to the world around them.

Economic factors drive many people to crime, though for different reasons. Greed motivates those who already have enough but want more - like Natalie McGarry, who embezzled thousands from the SNP simply because she could. On the flip side, poverty forces people into desperate situations where stealing basic necessities becomes a matter of survival.

Biological causes might sound like science fiction, but they're very real. The XYY chromosome condition makes some men more impulsive and masculine, with XYY males being four times more likely to have criminal records. Similarly, the warrior gene increases aggression in men, which explains why 95% of Scottish prisoners are male.

Remember: These causes often work together - someone might face peer pressure AND poverty AND biological factors all at once, making crime seem like their only option.

Additional Notes

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