Why do people commit crimes?

[Vic]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Hate.

Bingo.

Did Dahmer kill because he was poor?
Did the vandal who keyed your car do so because he was poor?
Did the high-rolling mobster/racketeer steal and kill because he was poor?

Most thieves don't calculate risk, they just see someone else's property and think that there is nothing wrong in taking it, by force and harm if necessary. The reasons why are all emotional. Jealousy, hatred, a desire to inflict harm, a desire to get get-rich-quick, or a desire to simply not have to go to work.

 

[Azraele]

There's a discussion on webmd that relates to this. The guy posted about not being able to control his angry feelings and how he fantasizes about killing others. He was asking the boards for advice. I'd say that discussion is a peak into a potential criminal mind.

 

I take it you havn't taken any collegate level psych classes have you?

 

[nan0bug]

Ive committed crimes out of boredom, for a rush, out of loyalty to loved ones (friends, family, girlfriend), and simply because I wanted to.

Crime doesn't pay though. Jail sucks, bad. Now that I'm a parent and a contributing member of society, I realize how selfish and foolish my youthful indescretions were.

 

[pyonir]

Two books i'd recommend you read:

Inside the Criminal Mind - Stanton Samenow PHD
Why They Kill - Richard Rhodes