Nature vs. Nurture in Criminal Behavior: Ethical and Social Factors
Causes of Criminal Activity
Criminal activity in modern society is one of the most disturbing and deeply researched topics. Scientists are trying to find the main reasons why individuals engage in criminal activities. The debate on this topic has been divided into two positions: on the one hand, the influence of nature is emphasized; on the other, nurture is given greater emphasis. In this confrontation of viewpoints, ethics occupies a special place, crucial to building arguments and policies to limit the problem. The nature-nurture debate in studies provides an opportunity to understand the fundamental factors in the formation and spread of criminal behavior in modern society.
Poverty
One of the main problems people consider when considering the leading role of nurture is the influence of social and economic factors. Poverty is becoming the main issue, as recent studies show that among all cities with high-crime statistics, 22.25% of them are poor territories with people living in poor conditions. This shows that “high-crime cities’ population is poorer than low-crime cities because poor causes anxiety and frustration in oneself, which can cause some people to act out, thus creating a higher crime rate” (Quednau, 2021, p. 10). Therefore, a significant focus at the moment is on introducing measures and approaches to reduce the number of residents living below the poverty line, in the hope of limiting crime in the country.
Morality
Regarding ethics and morality, there is also significant debate. One argument is that it is immoral to allow Americans to live in disorganized neighborhoods. At the same time, people use tax money to send billions in foreign aid. In this context, we mean assistance to such nations as Egypt, Pakistan, Israel, Haiti, and many others. In other words, people are concerned that most of the funding is spent not on problems within the country but on establishing international relations. Thus, there is a deterioration in the quality and conditions of society’s life and an increase in criminal activity.
In this case, I believe that addressing domestic challenges should be taken more seriously, as these issues can affect the country’s welfare. In other words, the stated problem is unethical because the government forgets its people. At the same time, it is also important to emphasize that assistance to other countries cannot be abandoned entirely. It is vital to find a balance between these actions that provides support without harming people’s well-being.
Nature
When discussing the causes of criminal activity, it is often suggested that nature plays a decisive role. From this point of view, it is crucial to consider that if genes are more important than the environment, what crime policies could or would flow from such thinking? It is worth noting that the possibility that they enhance the relevance of certain environmental factors is also considered.
One of the proposed policies may be the introduction of early genetic research to identify individuals’ predisposition to criminal activity. This examination would need to be conducted not only on one person but also on all close relatives to gain a complete understanding of the personality’s background. Based on the acquired information, it is further possible to implement other interventions to change behavior and transform these predispositions.
Summary of the Debate Arguments
Based on the information provided, it can be concluded that there are significant ethical issues surrounding the nature-nurture debate. On the one hand, it is believed that individuals’ internal characteristics influence the occurrence of deviant behavior. Another point of view suggests that external factors, such as the environment, make a substantial contribution to this aspect.
However, it cannot be said that this debate can be reduced to a single opinion. This is because both factors play almost equal roles in human behavior. Thus, research proved that “early life experiences can influence the future attitudes, intentions and personalities of individuals” (Ashhar, 2021, para. 12). At the same time, such internal determinants as biological characteristics underlie how learning occurs.
Personal Opinion
My position in this debate supports the view that criminal activity largely depends on external factors, that is, nurture. This is because the environment plays a significant role in individuals’ personality development. There are many examples in which people coming from a well-off household, having come under negative influence, become criminals and engage in this deviant behavior. Undoubtedly, nature is also essential, but I believe that it plays a more critical role as a determinant of human character predispositions, for example, compliance or resistance to certain kinds of influences. However, external factors, such as upbringing or peer pressure, make a much more significant contribution to the formation of people’s personalities.
References
Ashhar, M. (2021). The interplay of nature and nurture on criminal behavior. Effective Thoughts.
Quednau, J. (2021). How are violent crime rates in U.S. cities affected by poverty? The Park Place Economist, 28(1).
