Digital Crime Theories
Digital Crime Theories
Various theorists have attempted to explain the cause of crime, in general, using various theories. In the current digital world of technology, these theories have been modified to explain why people commit digital crimes. Similar to other forms of crimes, theorists claim that there are specific reasons as to why people commit a digital crime. This paper aims at explaining digital crime and the various theories that explain why people engage in digital crime.
Choice Theory
Choice theory suggests that a person commits or engages in a crime act because he/she chooses to do so with the consideration of both the benefits and risks involved. This means that an individual is more likely not to commit a crime if the risks involved, for example, punishment or apprehension outweighs the benefit. On the other hand, if the crime benefits, for example, very high financial returns, outweigh the risks, the individual is likely to commit the crime.
Likewise, digital crime offenders …show more content…
commit a crime for the same reasons as other crime offenders. This means that digital crime offenders choose to commit a crime by weighing both the benefits and risks involved. For example, if the benefit of hacking a company’s system pays handsomely, the offender is likely to commit the crime and deal with the risks later. In general, committing a crime is an individual choice, and criminals are likely to commit a crime for they believe that the risks involved are less as compared to the benefits (Cornish, & Clarke, 2012).
Learning Theory
The learning theory suggests that the reason as to why people commit a crime, including digital crime, is because they gain knowledge of the attitudes, rationalizations, and skill needed to carry out the acts. Commonly, the learning occurs through interaction with peers and parents.
Similarly, digital crime offenders commit crime because they learn from others through interaction. For example, in the current world, where the internet is at rampant use, most terrorists are being radicalized via the internet. This is a modern digital crime that most governments and countries have been unable to mitigate. High ranking terrorist teaches young individuals the ways of terrorism through the internet. Even though these people do not interact directly, crime gets passed on to others through learning. This phenomenon depicts the modern ways that criminals are using to commit crime (Berkeley University of California, 2016).
Q. 2
The most apparent reason as to why people commit crime is choosing to do so. Most people connect crime to poverty or scarcity; they claim that, people from the lower socio class are more likely to commit crime as compared to people from other social classes. This is presumed so by the fact that these people lack major resources to enable them to live a decent life, and as a result, they turn into crime to fill the missing gap. However, given the fact that not all individuals from the lower socio class turn into crime to meet their needs, and that some individuals turn out successive in life, depict that there are other choices apart from crime that these people can make, and still make it in life. This suggests that crime offenders choose to commit crime as a way of meeting their needs. They make this choice as it seems like an easy way, or a shortcut to get what they want. People make choices on what they want with their lives; they either choose to get involved in crime or not.
On the other hand, learning is also an apparent reason as to why people commit crime. According to studies done, one is more likely to find criminals in an area with many criminals. It is for this reason that, drug barons are more likely to be found where other drug barons live. This is because crime is learned from others. A teenager is more likely to learn on how to abuse drugs from his/her peers.
Q.3 – Strain Theory
Strain theory suggests that the reason as to why people commit crime is because they are short of opportunities, particularly, economic opportunities.
These theories correlate to the various theories that suggest that crime is correlated to socio class and status. These theories suggest that, people from lower socio status are more likely to commit crime as compared to people from other socio classes. Most people assume that people from the lower socio class commit crime more often as compared to people from the middle and upper class. This is the same assumption suggested by the strain theory. In order for these people to fill the missing gap or the strain they have, they tend to engage into crime. Crime serves as a way of fulfilling the strain. However the notion of socio class is not always true, particularly in the current digital world. White-collar crimes are mostly committed by majority of people in the upper class and few in the middle class (Baumann, & Friehe,
2013).
A low paid worker in the information and technology profession is likely to hack a system in order for him to sabotage the company’s information or expose it to competitors and thieves, or even worse sell the information. By doing this, the worker would be trying to get rid of the strain of being poorly paid. He/she will be attempting to get more money to add on to what he earns.
Various theorists have attempted to explain the cause of crime, in general, using various theories. In the current digital world of technology, these theories have been modified to explain why people commit digital crimes. Similar to other forms of crimes, theorists claim that there are specific reasons as to why people commit a digital crime. This paper aims at explaining digital crime and the various theories that explain why people engage in digital crime.
Choice Theory
Choice theory suggests that a person commits or engages in a crime act because he/she chooses to do so with the consideration of both the benefits and risks involved. This means that an individual is more likely not to commit a crime if the risks involved, for example, punishment or apprehension outweighs the benefit. On the other hand, if the crime benefits, for example, very high financial returns, outweigh the risks, the individual is likely to commit the crime.
Likewise, digital crime offenders …show more content…
commit a crime for the same reasons as other crime offenders. This means that digital crime offenders choose to commit a crime by weighing both the benefits and risks involved. For example, if the benefit of hacking a company’s system pays handsomely, the offender is likely to commit the crime and deal with the risks later. In general, committing a crime is an individual choice, and criminals are likely to commit a crime for they believe that the risks involved are less as compared to the benefits (Cornish, & Clarke, 2012).
Learning Theory
The learning theory suggests that the reason as to why people commit a crime, including digital crime, is because they gain knowledge of the attitudes, rationalizations, and skill needed to carry out the acts. Commonly, the learning occurs through interaction with peers and parents.
Similarly, digital crime offenders commit crime because they learn from others through interaction. For example, in the current world, where the internet is at rampant use, most terrorists are being radicalized via the internet. This is a modern digital crime that most governments and countries have been unable to mitigate. High ranking terrorist teaches young individuals the ways of terrorism through the internet. Even though these people do not interact directly, crime gets passed on to others through learning. This phenomenon depicts the modern ways that criminals are using to commit crime (Berkeley University of California, 2016).
Q. 2
The most apparent reason as to why people commit crime is choosing to do so. Most people connect crime to poverty or scarcity; they claim that, people from the lower socio class are more likely to commit crime as compared to people from other social classes. This is presumed so by the fact that these people lack major resources to enable them to live a decent life, and as a result, they turn into crime to fill the missing gap. However, given the fact that not all individuals from the lower socio class turn into crime to meet their needs, and that some individuals turn out successive in life, depict that there are other choices apart from crime that these people can make, and still make it in life. This suggests that crime offenders choose to commit crime as a way of meeting their needs. They make this choice as it seems like an easy way, or a shortcut to get what they want. People make choices on what they want with their lives; they either choose to get involved in crime or not.
On the other hand, learning is also an apparent reason as to why people commit crime. According to studies done, one is more likely to find criminals in an area with many criminals. It is for this reason that, drug barons are more likely to be found where other drug barons live. This is because crime is learned from others. A teenager is more likely to learn on how to abuse drugs from his/her peers.
Q.3 – Strain Theory
Strain theory suggests that the reason as to why people commit crime is because they are short of opportunities, particularly, economic opportunities.
These theories correlate to the various theories that suggest that crime is correlated to socio class and status. These theories suggest that, people from lower socio status are more likely to commit crime as compared to people from other socio classes. Most people assume that people from the lower socio class commit crime more often as compared to people from the middle and upper class. This is the same assumption suggested by the strain theory. In order for these people to fill the missing gap or the strain they have, they tend to engage into crime. Crime serves as a way of fulfilling the strain. However the notion of socio class is not always true, particularly in the current digital world. White-collar crimes are mostly committed by majority of people in the upper class and few in the middle class (Baumann, & Friehe,
2013).
A low paid worker in the information and technology profession is likely to hack a system in order for him to sabotage the company’s information or expose it to competitors and thieves, or even worse sell the information. By doing this, the worker would be trying to get rid of the strain of being poorly paid. He/she will be attempting to get more money to add on to what he earns.