Crime: Peele's Theory Of Addiction To Crime

Intellectual deficit is when someone has a learning disability, it limits their intellectual functioning of difficulty to do problem solving, learning etc. Addiction theories look at the interaction of personal and social factors that offenders are exposed to which make them commit crime and become persistent in offending. Theorists Murray and Herrnstein solely look at IQ (Intelligent quotient) which is a standardising test assessing the human intelligence as the main factor for committing crime, whereas theorist Peele look at the use of substance and alcohol and other emotional experiences offenders get when they commit crime. This is where the addiction stems from, this essay will look at theorists reasoning behind how crime is understood from their explanations and what causes offenders to commit crime.

Intellectual deficit and addiction theory both believe that social and environmental factors play a part in offenders committing crimes. Intelligence looks at how social factors such unemployment and education failure can lead to criminal behaviour, and the environment that people grow up for example poverty, low class areas. Similarly, for addiction theories, an individual may grow up in a poor environment and might be exposed to alcohol or drugs which is a social factor and that opens the door for

Peele’s (1985) theory of addiction to crime is that people have addicting and strong emotional experiences. Peele’s believes that delinquents gain a sense of control, boosted self-esteem which allows them to have power when experiencing their addiction of crime. This is demonstrated through the persistent joyriders in Ireland, she sampled juveniles that were in incarcerated in a special centre, for being involved in car related offences such as; theft of taking cars, reckless driving