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Criminologists are people who study crime. Criminologists look to explain the reasons why people who commit crime (offenders) behave in the way they do.

Factors including nature, poverty, childhood experience, peer pressure, alcohol and drug misuse, can explain why people break the law.

The nature argument for criminal behaviour

Some criminologists argue that some types of crime can be explained, in part, by the way a person’s brain works. This is the ‘nature’ argument.

For example, younger people tend to have higher rates of crime. Evidence shows that the brain doesn’t fully develop until the age of 25 years. The part of the brain that is last to develop is the prefrontal cortex. This is the part of the brain that makes decisions. Therefore, young people’s decision-making ability does not fully develop until later in life, meaning young people do not always make the best decisions early in life.

There is also evidence to suggest that some people are naturally more likely to commit crime. Research again shows that those who commit crime are more likely to get angry or have less understanding of another person's feelings (empathy). It is argued that people with these types of characteristics are often more likely to commit crime.

The nurture argument for criminal behaviour

The nurture argument says that people are more likely to commit crime because of the world around them, i.e. whether a person lives in poverty, their family relationships, their friendship group (peers) and their use or misuse of alcohol and drugs.

According to the Scottish Prison Service 17th Prisoner Survey (carried out in 2019), prisoners identified the following factors as having contributed to their offending behaviour:

Poverty and crime

Areas of deprivation, tend to have higher crime rates. This suggests there is a strong link between poverty and crime. For example, crime rates are higher in Dundee City, Glasgow City and Aberdeen City than East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, and the Orkney Islands.

One reason to explain the link between poverty and higher crime rates is that those on a low income may choose to commit crime to get the things they need, for example by shoplifting. However, most people on low incomes do not commit crime and every year there are examples of wealthy people who commit crime.

Total number of recorded crimes per 10,000 population 2022-23. (Source: National Statistics, Scottish Government)

Poor childhood experience and crime

Recent research into the causes of crime has focused on the extent to which a poor childhood experience can lead to involvement in crime.

What this means is that a child or young person who repeatedly experiences stress in their early life, such as neglect, emotional or physical abuse or parental separation, is far more likely to get involved in crime themselves when older.

Scottish Government research shows that stress in childhood harms healthy brain development. This in turn can lead to risk-taking and criminal behaviour.

Peer pressure and crime

Peer pressure can be a cause of crime among some younger people. According to the Scottish Offenders Index, for minor crime, the peak age of offending is under 20 years. More recent evidence shows that the peak age for all crime for men is 23 years and women 30 years.

In 2020-21, the highest number of convictions per 1,000 population was for the 31 to 40 age group overall (18 per 1,000). The 21 to 30 age group shows a similar 17 convictions per 1,000 population.(Criminal proceedings in Scotland, Scottish Government)

In interviews carried out in 2016 at Polmont Young Offenders Institute, some young offenders described the powerful effect of peers - especially the influence of older young people - while they were excluded [from school]. They noted the sometimes rapid, escalation of substance abuse, violence and offending at that time. They spoke of the impact of broken connections with school and with out-of-school activities, role models and pro-social pastimes such as football, which the wider community can provide. (Children and Young People in Custody in Scotland).

Alcohol misuse and crime

There is a close link between alcohol misuse and crime. When drunk, people may think less about the consequences of their behaviour. They are also less able to control their emotions.

In a study published by Alcohol Focus Scotland in 2021, 41% of prisoners said that they were drunk at the time of their crime. This figure rose to 60% for young offenders.

Drug misuse and crime

Many children may be affected by parental drug misuse. The effects of this can include children being at risk of neglect and of emotional and physical abuse. Long-term risks also include poor physical and mental health.

Growing up in a household where there is drug and alcohol misuse can seriously affect the life chances of the child.

Many young people from all social backgrounds and all parts of the country experiment and take drugs including tobacco, alcohol and cannabis. They do this for a variety of reasons.

The key factors determining whether people experiment with drugs appear to be the following:

• early years experiences
• family relationships
• family circumstances
• parental attitudes and behaviours