Crime Control

The Cause of Crime The Cause of Crime

The Cause of Crime

In 2007, 11,251,828 crimes were committed each day in the U.S, with 1,408,337 of them considered violent (Chacha.com/society & culture). The crime rate has decreased significantly since then. Despite years of study and research, crime experts are still not certain why people commit crime or why some people become crime victims (Siegel, Worral, 2012 pg90). There are many reasons why millions of Americans commit crime today. For example unemployment, there’s people who have problems and are seeking attention, there’s also people who are battling with certain disorders (bipolar, personality disorder etc.) 1% of Americans have Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD). The majority of people with the disorder end up involved in crime (toptenz.net). There are people who have faced traumatic events in their lifetime and they turn to drugs or alcohol. More than 50% of serious crimes committed in the United States are drug or alcohol related. There are also people who there are three theories that I would like to discuss. 1. Latent Trait Theory 2. Cognitive Theory 3. Psychodynamic Theory
Wynter 2

Latent trait, a theory that indicates that human development is controlled by a master trait present at birth or soon after. Cognitive theory focus on the way a person thinks and stores information. Psychodynamic theory indicates that some people encounter problems during their early development that cause an imbalance in their personality (J. Siegel L. Worral pgs. 102-103 & 119). In my own opinion latent theory is a theory that explains latent structure, whereas cognitive theory is a theory that is concerned with ones thought process. If you think about it latent and cognitive theories are sort of similar, as well as psychodynamic theory. All of these theories have an effect on the mind, and all of these theories are based upon a human going through a series of stages beginning early in childhood. At a young age a person can be controlled by his/her master to think a certain way or to respond to certain situations a certain way, which is a latent theory. Being that a person goes through many stages in their early childhood they are exposed to different things. Each stage that a person goes through they mark their own perspective on what is right and what is wrong. This is called the cognitive theory. Again Psychodynamic theory begins in early development. So as you can see, these theories are similar.
As each theory takes its place they are very similar but, they also differ. As we know, the similarity of these theories begins in the mind. As a person is being formed in their early childhood development these theories take effect on some people (latent, cognitive & psychodynamic theory). The effect is not the same. That is where these different theories occur. I believe that it depends on the type of effect that a certain situation has on a person that these theories takes its root. That is the difference between these theories. These theories stimulate from early childhood development, but are formed on the effect that it has on a person. There you have the similarities and differences of these Wynter 3 theories. Now how do these theories affect people today in our everyday life? Human with latent, cognitive and psychodynamic theories are more likely to commit crime, crime that not only affects themselves but other people as well.