What causes criminality and lack of morals?

[raleighnut]

Upbringing.

 

[matticus]

Hmmm. Name checking particular countries and nationalities as being particularly famed for criminality is the kind of thing that would - back in the day - have caused a degree of uproar on here. We'll see how the thread goes.

Fair point - but it is fact that some countries have far higher crimes-per-person than others. This is generally driven by poverty (amongst other factors), not the personality type of the citizens! So if @Cycleops has figures to back this up ...

 

[All uphill]

I remember a Radio 4 programme saying that the high likelihood of rapid detection and punishment has a big effect.

If I think I'm likely to get caught stealing, will be in court next week and prison the week after, then that is an effective deterrent.

If I'm unlikely to get caught, and any sanction could be 18 months away then it's not much of a deterrent.

 

[MontyVeda]

Upbringing.

You can't just blame parents.

People get to a certain (young) age where risk taking becomes something they do and if they keep getting away with it, they'll keep doing it.
Their own sense of morality ultimately guides their choices, no matter how 'well' or 'badly' one has been raised.
It's not just a class thing either... the bad eggs of one social class may shoplift whilst bad eggs in another class merely embezzles.

 

[Emanresu]

You do know there are lots, and lots of studies in this area. If you are an academic, the Ministry of Justice in the UK will allow you to download a load of information on past cases so you can write a paper about some aspect or other.

Acres and acres of print on the subject.

[Link to Journal of Criminal Justice Studies]

 

[craigwend]

Overall - Mixture of nature and nurture.
Criminality is subjective to time place society etc.
Morals are subjective from person to person

 

[Punkawallah]

Apparently, if the child is not ‘socialised’ by the age of four, they are not going to be. So whoever has responsibility for its upbringing to the age of four is largely responsible for its future behaviour. Poverty is often quoted as being a cause of crime, but I was poor, had a broken home, have been in dire financial straits, and not resorted to crime to improve my lot. I’d agree that a major deterrence to committing crime is the fear of being caught, but that is not likely to happen atm. The last I heard only 1 in 20 crimes actually result in a charge. Not prosecution, not conviction, not prison, but simply charged.

 

[Cycleops]

I'm sure that's true @Pukawallah . The traveller couple who were jailed for the 'dine and dash' offences in Wales used there child who they said would stay in the restaurant as a guarantee that the parents would return with payment. Obviously legged it later as per his parents instructions. What chance has he got when he grows up with this example?
The traveller community weren't too impressed either, sounds like it was they that broke all the windows in their house. Not wishing to be tarred with the same brush I should think.

 

[Kingfisher101]

It depends what the offense is surely. A lot of theft now in the U.K is drug related. I think a lot is pure greed as well and having no chance of getting a job paying for the lifestyle the person wants so they just become a drug dealer or an armed robber instead.
Then there's really serious crimes where there has to be something fundamentally wrong with the persons mind, like with Lucy Letby.

 

[classic33]

It depends what the offense is surely. A lot of theft now in the U.K is drug related. I think a lot is pure greed as well and having no chance of getting a job paying for the lifestyle the person wants so they just become a drug dealer or an armed robber instead.
Then there's really serious crimes where there has to be something fundamentally wrong with the persons mind, like with Lucy Letby.

Most of "petty theft" is far from petty when it happens on a daily basis. And it's not all drugs either. It's being done to order to fund a lifestyle they want, but at minimum effort to themselves.

 

[BoldonLad]

I always believed the answer to the OP question was Nurture. The possibility of it being Nature didn't sit well with me. My personal life experiences have shaken this belief. Not statistically significant, I am sure.

 

[Cycleops]

I'm sure you can put down the majority of cases of fraud to greed. The Bernie Madorf scam and similar , benefits fraud (where perpetrated by organised criminals and sometimes by individuals) and by those in positions of power and in government office.
These people are not poor nor on drugs and have usually had a good upbringing.

 

[Kingfisher101]

If someone offered you a massive amount to commit fraud then a lot of people absolutely would do it, especially if they thought they would definitely get away with it. People rip off friends, family, employers anyone at the drop of a hat.

 

[Cycleops]

Desperation due to lack of available work, education, opportunities etc.

Would that be enough to turn you into a criminal? Seriously?

 

[Yellow Saddle]

That's a bit harsh on your ex colleagues!

Why? Let's call a scumbag a scumbag.