Criminology

I believe that ones environment has deep and heavy impacts on who a person is and how he acts in his everyday life. For example, if one grew up surrounded by terrible conditions and had never even experienced any other kind of world, one would learn to only think and act as a reaction to these conditions without ever knowing that there is a better way to live. Of course the opposite is also true if one has never been exposed to bad conditions, one would not be able to imagine a difficult life and would probably not be equipped with the tools to cope if forced into such a world. Its the age-old question of Nature vs. Nurture, and crime can be seen as an adaptive tool for people who have no choice but to use it.

Such an adaptive tool can be brought about by necessity whether as a means of survival or taking the initiative to become, thinking in the context of evolution, the strongest. Crime can be seen as a quick and easy solution at an entirely critical and desperate moment or just to get ahead in life, even though it has a multitude of consequences in the long run. For something important like the life of a family member being on the line, and money is needed, this is just one of the many reasons why a person would turn to crime when he has avoided it before. In a tough neighborhood, for example, one has to be even tougher to get ahead if youre seen as weak, you can be victimized. If one grows up in an environment where other opportunities do not exist, crime becomes a viable option. It is possible though that it is just the recourse they were taught, like when a mother teaches her child to steal for her, its not unheard-of. In this case its harder to leave that lifestyle because its not easy to leave ones comfort zone, especially if a respected loved one is involved.

I like to believe though, that no matter if crime is a means for survival or taught, once you learn that what youre doing is wrong, it becomes a choice. One can still choose to break away from this easy and ingrained solution and choose to adapt to hardships in positive (and not to mention legal) ways  like choosing to work harder when times get tougher or just being creative. Its not impossible, as there are so many stories of people coming from the worst circumstances, adapting in their own ways, and coming up on top in the end. The only problem is, choosing an alternative to crime in an environment that cultivates it as a primary option, may have a price or two that people are just not willing to pay. But again, its a choice, a difficult one, but still a choice.