As we round the afterlife of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the crimes people committed during their short season of freedom, rises to light.
The question I asked myself as we sat in the darkness of illness and death was why some people, like myself, always follow the law, no matter what occurs around us, and why others never follow it.
In fact, what rose to the surface was that criminal saw the Pandemic as their ticket to achieve their worst selves and get away with it.
As I drove myself to the hospital for a medical crisis in my family, I was one of the few on the dark highway. I naturally drove the speed limit, despite the fact that not one single other car was on the road, and there were no law enforcement.
When out of the blue, a sports car came from nowhere and shot past me with at least a speed of 80 miles an hour. Of course, he could get away with it, because no one was on the road but me.
But, it honed in on the fact that many people saw the darkness of COVID as their season of opportunity.
Criminals will be criminals no matter what the rules are.
Which brings me to the point of this post: why criminals commit crimes.
While the following psychological factors may not be exactly the picture of reasons, they do share with us as normally-brained people a list of possible reasons some people think little of committing crimes, while others thrive on it.
Psychological Factors
One of the most significant signs of criminal behavior lies in an individual’s psychological makeup.
I could go into a long post about nature versus nurture, but in short, we all know the childhood trauma increases the likelihood that a person will live a life of crime. That being said, some people survive severe childhood trauma, and they managed to come out on the other side as Victor’s and survivors not criminals.
Yet diving deep into a person‘s personality traits, mental health, and cognitive processes help us as law, abiding citizens, find some level of understanding about why these people commit crimes in the first place.
Certain psychological conditions and personality disorders are strongly correlated with criminal tendencies so the truth remains that no matter what a person survives in childhood, the following psychological characteristics do shine some light on the reason why.
Personality Traits
Traits such as impulsivity, aggression, and a lack of empathy are often associated with criminal behavior. Psychopaths and sociopaths, for instance, exhibit a lack of remorse and a tendency to manipulate others, which can lead to both violent and non-violent crimes. These traits make it easier for individuals to justify their actions and disregard societal norms.
Who we are begins, in my humble opinion at birth and may or may not be shaped by our experiences and any trauma we suffer as children.
Mental Health Disorders
While the majority of people with mental health disorders are not criminals, certain untreated conditions can contribute to unlawful behavior. Disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and antisocial personality disorder may impair judgment or increase the likelihood of acting on delusions, impulsivity, or anger.
Psychological disturbances may occur in families and show up in one person, versus another. If you believe in God, I think it comes down to a bigger plan for each person’s life.
If you hold a conscience, you find a way to overcome your mental health challenges, while others who hold no conscience only give in to evil, lawless impulses.
Cognitive Distortions
Some individuals commit crimes due to distorted thinking patterns, such as believing they are entitled to something that belongs to someone else or rationalizing harmful actions as necessary or deserved. These cognitive distortions can result in behaviors that bypass ethical considerations.
Social Influences
Social factors play a pivotal role in shaping an individual’s behavior. The environment in which a person grows up, their relationships, and societal pressures can all contribute to criminal tendencies.
Family Dynamics
A dysfunctional family environment, including neglect, abuse, or lack of supervision, is a common thread among many criminals. Children who experience these conditions may develop attachment issues, low self-esteem, or a skewed sense of morality, increasing their susceptibility to crime.
However, one or several people may grow up in abusive or neglectful circumstances and rise to overcome the pressure to commit crime or abuse others.
Family dynamics holds one key of similarity in criminals, but it does not fully cause it in my opinion.
Peer Pressure
For adolescents and young adults, peer pressure is a significant driver of criminal behavior. Joining gangs, participating in illegal activities, or succumbing to the influence of delinquent friends can lead to a criminal path. The desire for acceptance and belonging often overrides the fear of consequences.
Many stories of youth overcoming gangs and drugs as as children, succumb to peer pressure, but many also rise above it.
Socioeconomic Factors
Poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to education are strong predictors of criminal behavior. When individuals face limited opportunities and systemic inequalities, they may turn to illegal means to survive or attain what they perceive as success. Economic desperation can push people into theft, drug trafficking, or other crimes.
Yet again, like peer pressure, this does not mean a person will become a criminal, but it may increase their chances of justifying such behaviors.
Biological Factors
Biology also plays a role in influencing criminal behavior. Research suggests that genetic predispositions and neurobiological factors can impact an individual’s likelihood of engaging in criminal acts.
Genetics
Studies have found that individuals with a family history of criminal behavior are more likely to commit crimes themselves. While genes alone do not determine one’s destiny, they can predispose individuals to traits like impulsivity and aggression, which are risk factors for criminal activity.
Brain Structure and Function
Abnormalities in brain structure or function can influence behavior. For instance, damage to the prefrontal cortex—the area responsible for decision-making and impulse control—has been linked to increased aggression and poor judgment.
Similarly, imbalances in neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine can affect mood and behavior, potentially leading to criminal actions.
While again, this does not guarantee someone may become a criminal, it may pose as a challenge for any individual.
Hormonal Influences
Hormonal fluctuations, particularly those involving testosterone, have been associated with aggressive and risky behaviors. While hormones alone do not cause crime, they can amplify tendencies toward certain actions in individuals who are already predisposed to such behaviors.
Some people have genetic anomalies which cause a disturbance in hormonal production, which creates hormonal imbalances and aggression.
Cultural and Societal Norms
The broader cultural and societal context in which a person lives can significantly shape their behavior. In some cases, societal norms or cultural practices may inadvertently encourage or normalize criminal acts.
If, for example, you grew up in the hood, and violence is the way you solve problems, then it may pose a challenge when you enter in normal society as an adult.
Cultural Acceptance of Violence
In cultures where violence is glamorized or seen as a way to resolve conflicts, individuals may be more likely to engage in violent crimes. Media portrayals of criminals as anti-heroes can also reinforce the idea that breaking the law is a path to power or respect.
Systemic Inequalities
Racial, economic, and gender inequalities can create environments where crime seems like the only viable option. For example, systemic discrimination may push marginalized groups into situations where survival depends on illegal activities.
Despair can cause great motivation to commit crimes when there is no other way out of a situation.
Legal and Social Enforcement
Weak legal systems or lack of law enforcement can embolden individuals to commit crimes. In areas where corruption is rampant or punishment is unlikely, the perceived risk of getting caught is reduced, making criminal behavior more appealing.
As I shared in my COVID experience, some view opportunity coupled with a lack of consequences as a green light to commit crime.
Situational Factors
In some cases, crime is not a result of deep-seated tendencies but rather situational pressures and opportunities.
Some people driven by the immediate circumstances of their lives, and a mix of other factors, simply give into crime.
Opportunity
The availability of opportunities to commit crimes can influence behavior. For instance, a poorly secured home might tempt an otherwise law-abiding individual to steal. Opportunity crimes are often impulsive and unplanned, driven by circumstances rather than intent.
Stress and Crisis
Stressful life events, such as losing a job, experiencing a divorce, or facing significant financial hardships, can push individuals to commit crimes out of desperation. Crimes of passion, often resulting from intense emotional states, also fall under this category.
Substance Abuse
Drug and alcohol use can impair judgment and lower inhibitions, making it more likely for individuals to engage in criminal behavior. Many crimes, including assaults and thefts, are committed under the influence of substances.
It remains no scientific secret that your brain literally changes under years of extreme addiction. Brain scans show the proof of this.
In the End
No one reason gives us the reason that criminals commit crimes. While patterns emerge in criminals, especially in those who commit murders and serial killers, it does not guarantee that they will become criminals.
The reasons behind criminal behavior are multifaceted, involving a blend of psychological, social, biological, and situational factors.
