Page 32 - University English for non-speacalist

Crime
No one factor can be said to cause crime. It, like poverty, is caused by many factors,
some individual and others environmental. Many conflicting reports exist about the intelligence
of criminals. Some studies show that from 20 to 30 percent have subnormal intelligence; others
do not bear this out. One of the most important personal causes of crime is mental conflict. For
example, more delinquents are from broken than from normal homes. Some situations causing
mental conflict are revolt against parental authority, envy of brothers or sisters, feelings of
inferiority with other members of the family, and the desire for recognition.

Mental conflicts are more acute at certain age periods; for example, in early life when the
individual may be compelled to enter the competitive life of our modern economic world. More
criminals are in the twenty to twenty-nine year age group than are in any other age group.
Mental conflict in situations of family disorganizations and homes broken by divorce or
separation may contribute to the development of antisocial behavior.

Poverty may be given as one of the social causes contributing to crime. Poverty may
compel individuals to live in slums or blighted areas. Statistics show that there is more crime in
larger cities than in smaller towns and rural areas. Some criminologists point out that the
emphasis on money in modern life may contribute to the high rate of crime. Crimes against
property constitute over 90 percent of all major offenses known to the police. The importance
attached to the getting of money and the significance of social status on an economic basis is

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