Cause of crime

Lots of thing can cause crime. We humans like to think as ourselves as rational beings, above nature. But the evidence is that a lot of chemicals etc can affect our thinking, and lead to various disorders: this can manifest as crime, especially behavioral crime problems like violence.

One recent set of studies is about how lead (the metal) exposure causes brain damage. Lead is a neurotoxin, and high levels of exposure in babies are related to later violence behavior and lack of control. All this is well documented by the medical profession.

More recently, some researchers put two-and-two together: the general population had a HUGE EXPOSURE TO LEAD in the mid-20th century due to lead in gasoline. Sure enough, violent crime rose in states, cities, and countries with a 20-year time lag after the introduction of leaded gasoline. And then violent crime in the same areas fell again - also with a 20-year time lag after leaded gasoline was outlawed.

Note, that only VIOLENT crime (crimes of self-control) is tied to lead exposure in this fashion: there is no matching rise and fall in property crimes.

None of the social theories explains both the surge in the murder rate in the 1970's and the subsequent decline. Liberals blame capitalism, conservatives blame decline in marriage and single motherhood. But both these things are alive and well, yet crime fell again.

Note that areas where the poorest people live - urban ghettos - have the highest lingering exposure to lead. These were areas of high traffic congestion in the 20th century, now abandoned by socially-mobile white folks due to the VIOLENT CRIME RATE there - which as shown is much more likely due to toxic chemicals than culture. A recent mapping of lead exposure in New Orleans suburbs was a very good match for a map of crime "hot spots" by the local police.

Here are some more...

Laziness - some people would rather take from others then do an honest days work.

Greed - some people simply want money so bad that they are too lazy to work for it.

Bad economy - people loose jobs and do what they see as the only way out to put food on there table and provide for there family.

Dont Care - Some people simply dont give a darn and do what they want.

Really great read about the common cause of crimes...