Social class and Crime

(Aqsa Mehrab, Karachi)

Crime rate is related to social class. The relationship between Crime and Social class is an Eternal debate let’s discuss it briefly; Crime is directly proportional to the disparities in a social structure. A greater number of population demands for an increase in per capita needs and gradually transitions to adverse effects when not met properly. This increases competitiveness and widens the gaps between social classes, birthing a feeling of envy and being wronged.

Overpopulation leads to a scarcity of natural resources, triggering some of the most basic and feral needs of survival in humans. Surveys done by the Pakistan Economic Survey showed an increase in the crimes per 100,1000 of the population for consecutive years. It has been noted that a balanced population rate is effective in controlling crime, but the inability in providing basic necessities elevates crime rates.

Social structure theories stress that crime results from economic and other problems in how society is structured and from poverty and other problems in neighborhoods.

The concept of economics in crime was introduced by Fleischer in 1966, who studied the relationship between low income and crime, concluding that low income increases the tendency to commit crimes. Similarly, in 1968 Becker presented the idea that an individual can commit a crime in order to increase their economical benefits.

Social root causes of crime are inequality, not sharing power, lack of support to families and neighborhoods, real or perceived inaccessibility to services, lack of leadership in communities, low value placed on children and individual well-being, the overexposure to television as a means of recreation. Unemployment is a huge factor linked to an increase in population and has also been linked to the likelihood of committing crimes.

It’s the fact that the working-class commit more crime than the Middle class and lower class. The disadvantage of the social-economic class has birthed many crimes, especially those that reward a monetary sum. Theories emphasize the nature of such crimes being a product of economical factors, social disparities between the class structure, and poverty. It also leads to a more aggressive nature, pertaining to the idea of being treated unfairly in comparison with others. It is without a doubt that these differences within the social structure contribute to an elevated crime rate.

Aqsa Mehrab
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