Nobody has the definitive answer to what causes violent crime, but seemingly everybody has an opinion about it. A multitude of theories exist, ranging from the sociological to the biological. Academic disciplines including biology, sociology, criminology and philosophy, as well as religion, have proffered theories about the causes of violent crime. In addition, a body of scientific literature suggests that tendencies toward violent crime can be identified in childhood.
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A study by Cambridge University criminologist David Farrington examined predictors of violence in male youths, as most violent crimes are committed by, and to, males. Farrington identified the following as predictors of violent crime: biological and individual factors, family characteristics and social factors.
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Farrington's study cited a low heart rate as being among the biological predictors of violent behavior. In addition, brain imaging studies by psychologist Adrian Raine found genetic differences in brain function between violent criminals and other people. Violent offenders exhibited a dysfunction in the area of the brain that controls aggression. Raine further suggests that violent criminals get a kind of "high" from violent behavior.
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Farrington identified characteristics such as low intelligence and a lack of impulse control as predictors of violent behavior. In addition, family characteristics such as having violent or abusive parents, poor parental supervision, harsh or aggressive discipline in the home and growing up in a broken family have been found to relate to violent criminal actions.
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An extensive body of research suggests that social conditions such as poverty, racism and socioeconomic inequality can predict violent behavior, but not everyone agrees. A study by the London School of Economics, for example, suggests that the correlation between socioeconomic inequality and violent crime may be spurious.
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Some studies citing biological or genetic predictors of violent crime have led to the misconception that some people are "born bad." While violent criminals may not be born that way, some studies suggest that violent behavior can be diagnosed early, even in children as young as six years of age.
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