causes of crime - is media the main cause?

AN INDIVIDUAL SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE…
 He is the one who commits the act; therefore he is the one to face the consequences.

 He may come from disadvantaged/dysfunctional home, poor background, etc. but it does not mean he can use this as an excuse. Plenty of good role models for him to emulate.

 He may be subjected to a diet of media violence but he can still exercise free will and not resort to aggressive behaviour.


SOCIETY SHOULD BE BLAMED BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT EXIST WITHIN IT.
“...It’s our social system that cause violence in our society: poverty, discrimination, the failure of our educational system, dysfunctional homes…”

 Dysfunctional homes /families:
 broken homes, abusive parents (verbal, physical, sexual), irresponsible parents who neglect the development of their children.
 the breakdown of the family creates the conditions for criminal behaviour (sense of hopelessness, alienation or depression).
 A child’s behaviour and moral values often mirror those of his caregivers.

 Poverty & discrimination:
 Society should be held accountable because policy makers may neglect the needs of the poor (financial aid, affordable health care and education, better school facilities, etc.).
 Children from poor homes may feel marginalized and are unable to compete with their more fortunate peers on a level playing field. High unemployment rate could also lead to feelings of social injustice.
 Unemployment may lead to boredom which could lead to crime.

 Failure of our educational system
 Education system may focus too much on academic success/achievement to the detriment of moral values.
 Schools may fail to identify and correct some objectionable behaviour, e.g. bullying.

 The influence of the media
 The media often glamorize violence.

 Easy access to guns
 In some countries, e.g. the USA, people have the right to own weapons. Gun licences are readily available.
 Guns are also available on the black market.


VIOLENCE MAY BE DUE TO BIOLOGICAL FACTORS
 Neurological studies/ research on brain abnormality/ injury
 There is evidence that biology may well affect behaviour. Some neurologists/ doctors have done research on people with brain abnormalities/ injuries and discovered that there are grounds to suggest that aggressive behaviour may be caused by such abnormalities/ injuries.
 Case studies have indicated that some people who suffer from brain abnormalities/ injuries may lose the ability to differentiate right from wrong.

 Crime genes
 While highly controversial, scientists are unable to say for certain that crime genes do not exist. Some people may well be pre-disposed to aggressive behaviour.