Psychosocial Factors Related Criminal Behaviour
In the present scenario what is usually seen is that all are interested in getting the
accused punished meanwhile the risk factors or the root cause(s) that led an individual to
commit the crime is ignored at large. In order to prevent crime it is important to have an
understanding of its roots (Richard, 2005; Muhammad, 2008). It should be noted that
there are certain risk and protective factors in our societies, cultures (family values),
system (educational, political, law-enforcement), economy, and so on that endorses as
well as motivates the criminal activities of an individual (Lyman and Potter, 2007).
Usually a combination of such factors is behind a person who commits a crime
(Melkonyan, 2008). These factors can be associated with the child, the family, school, the
community or cultural environment and with life events.
Community related risk factors are availability of drugs, availability of firearms,
community laws and norms favourable toward drug use, firearms, and crime, media
portrayals of violence, transitions and mobility, low neighbourhood attachment and
community disorganization, and extreme economic deprivation. Family related risk
factors are family history of problem behaviour, family management problems, family
conflict, and favourable parental attitudes and involvement in the problem behaviour.
School risk factors are early and persistent antisocial behaviour, academic failure
beginning in late elementary school, and lack of commitment to school. Individual/Peer
1
In the present scenario what is usually seen is that all are interested in getting the
accused punished meanwhile the risk factors or the root cause(s) that led an individual to
commit the crime is ignored at large. In order to prevent crime it is important to have an
understanding of its roots (Richard, 2005; Muhammad, 2008). It should be noted that
there are certain risk and protective factors in our societies, cultures (family values),
system (educational, political, law-enforcement), economy, and so on that endorses as
well as motivates the criminal activities of an individual (Lyman and Potter, 2007).
Usually a combination of such factors is behind a person who commits a crime
(Melkonyan, 2008). These factors can be associated with the child, the family, school, the
community or cultural environment and with life events.
Community related risk factors are availability of drugs, availability of firearms,
community laws and norms favourable toward drug use, firearms, and crime, media
portrayals of violence, transitions and mobility, low neighbourhood attachment and
community disorganization, and extreme economic deprivation. Family related risk
factors are family history of problem behaviour, family management problems, family
conflict, and favourable parental attitudes and involvement in the problem behaviour.
School risk factors are early and persistent antisocial behaviour, academic failure
beginning in late elementary school, and lack of commitment to school. Individual/Peer
1
