Criminal Behavior: The Key Influences
Biological and situational factors are likely to push Steve toward the criminal behaviour. According to certain criminologists, human biology may predispose people to criminal behavior (Walden University, n.d.). Biological characteristics, such as variations in physiological arousal and neuroendocrine functioning, have been found to enhance the risk that individuals would engage in criminal behavior. It seems that being a criminal may be inclined in Steve’s genome, given the past of his father.
Similarly, to how people cannot pick their genes, they also cannot choose how they are raised as children. Some of them had nice, even ideal, childhoods, whilst others did not. Children reared in adverse circumstances are more likely to engage in criminal activity as adolescents and as adults (Walden University, n.d.). In fact, research indicates that sentenced criminals are four times more likely to have had unpleasant childhood experiences than non-criminals. Steve’s childhood was connected to the depicted state of affairs apparently.
Then, who people associate with may affect who they are, which stands for the factor of negative social environment. Just residing in a high-crime area might enhance our likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior (Walden University, n.d.). However, it is not likely that this factor has contributed much to Steve’s behavior. He has been involved in the community of Catholic Church for a long period, and his contacts with the father are limited.
There is no dispute that drug misuse and criminal activity are connected. Eighty-five percent of the jail population in the United States has misused drugs or alcohol. However, 63-83% of those arrested for the majority of offenses test positive for illicit substances at the time of their arrest (Walden University, n.d.). Certain intoxicants, like alcohol, reduce our inhibitions, whilst others, like cocaine, overstimulate our neurological system. The physical and mental alterations generated by intoxicants have a detrimental effect on our self-control and judgment in every circumstance. This factor affected Steve’s behavior for sure, given his problems with alcohol.
Reference
Walden University. (n.d.). What influences criminal behavior? Web.