Lesson video

Hello, my name's Mrs. Rawbone and I'm your RS teacher today.

I'd like to welcome you to this lesson on Reasons for crime: poverty, and upbringing.

In today's lesson, you will be able to explain how poverty and upbringing can lead to crime and describe Christian and secular responses to these causes.

Keywords we'll be using today are: crime, poverty, and upbringing.

Crime is an action which breaks the law and it can be against the person, for example, murder, against property, for example, vandalism, or against the state, for example, treason.

Poverty is the state of being without the things needed for a reasonable quality of life, and it can be a cause of crime.

Upbringing is the environment a child lives in and the instructions they receive while they're growing up, which can be a cause of crime.

Today's lesson will form two parts.

We'll be looking at poverty and upbringing, and we'll be looking at responses to causes of crime.

So let's get started on poverty and upbringing.

Jacob and Laura are discussing the causes of crime.

Jacob says, "Do you think it's possible that someone's upbringing could make them more likely to commit a crime? Laura responds, "Definitely.

Growing up in poverty or experiencing family problems can really affect how someone behaves." Jacob responds, "If that's true, then may be some people aren't to blame for the crimes they commit." So why is Jacob's final point important? Pause the video, turn and talk to someone nearby if you can, or you can talk to me and then come back when you're ready to move on.

Crime has many causes: poverty, upbringing, mental illness, addiction, greed and hate.

Poverty is the state of being without the things needed for a reasonable quality of life, and it can be a cause of crime.

Addiction is the environment a child lives in and the instructions they received while they are growing up.

It can also be a cause of crime.

There's evidence of a link between poverty and crime and between upbringing and crime.

In 2016, Barack Obama noted that young men growing up in poverty are more likely to end up in prison or become victims of crime.

Baroness Louise Casey, who's a senior government advisor, stated in 2012 that poor parenting, family breakdown and a lack of discipline are key causes of youth crime.

Poverty can create a cycle of offending.

A lack of money and basic needs can lead to stress and desperation.

Some may turn to crime as a way to survive, to provide for the family or to escape their situation.

A criminal record can limit future opportunities and trap people in poverty.

Upbringing can also create a cycle of offending.

A difficult upbringing, including perhaps neglect or violence, can affect a child's behaviour.

Seeing crime at home or in the community can make it seem normal or acceptable.

And without positive role models, people are more likely to make harmful choices.

Is this statement true or false? Poverty and neglect can create pressure that increases the risk of crime.

Take a moment to think about whether it's true or false, but also to think about why.

Come back when you are ready to move on.

Well done if you put true, but why is it true? It's true because people who grow up in poverty or difficult environments may feel trapped or lack support, which can lead to poor choices and the higher chance of committing crime.

Living in poverty can be a cause of a variety of types of crime.

Shoplifting and theft.

People may steal basic goods just because they can't afford them.

Burglary.

People may break into homes to steal money or valuables.

Drug offences.

So individuals may begin drug dealing to make money.

Public order offences.

Homelessness and poverty can lead to offences like trespassing.

So take a moment.

Can you think of any further examples? Pause the video, come back when you're ready to move on.

Upbringing can be a cause of a variety of types of crime too.

For example, involvement in gangs.

A lack of family support can push young people towards gangs.

Domestic abuse.

Growing up in an abusive home increases the risk of repeating such behaviour.

Substance abuse offences.

People may use substances to cope with childhood trauma.

And other offences.

Having parents who have been in or are in prison can suggest that crime is a norm.

So again, can you think of any further examples of types of crime caused by upbringing? Pause the video, come back when you're ready to move on.

Let's think about poverty.

An example of someone committing crime because of poverty was Kenneth Lay.

He was caught stealing food and essentials from supermarkets in 2012, and this was to feed his family after losing his job and facing homelessness.

Upbringing.

A famous example is Reggie and Ronnie Kray.

They grew up in a violent, poor East London area where crime and a lack of role models led them into organised crime in the 1950s and 1960s.

So let's check your understanding.

First, we'll work through an example together.

Name one type of crime caused by poverty.

You could say any of the following: burglary, shoplifting, drug offences, public order offences.

So I'd like you to do the same for name one type of crime caused by upbringing.

Pause the video if you need to and then come back when you are ready to see what you could have written.

You could have said any of the following: domestic abuse, gang involvement, substance abuse offence, anti-social behaviour.

So well done if you put any of those examples.

Someone who sees poverty is a major influence on behaviour might believe that people living in poverty are less to blame for committing crimes.

Laura says, "If someone steals food because they cannot afford to eat, it could be argued that their actions were shaped by need and not by greed." So have a think about this scale going from zero to 10, where zero people are less to blame and 10 people are fully to blame.

Where would you place Laura's view on that scale and how does it compare with your own? Pause the video, turn and talk to someone nearby if you can, and then come back when you are ready to move on.

Someone who thinks upbringing has a strong effect on behaviour might believe that a person raised in violence or neglect is not fully to blame for their actions.

Sam says, "If someone has never been taught right from wrong, some might argue they need support, not just punishment." So let's have a think about that scale again.

Where would you place Sam's view on the scale and how does it compare with your own? Pause the video, turn and talk to someone nearby, or you can talk to me and then come back when you're ready to move on.

Let's check your understanding.

What are the missing words? Stealing food because of- might be seen as a result of need rather than greed.

And a difficult upbringing might lead people to commit crimes because they were not- right from wrong.

Take a moment, pause if you need to, come back when you're ready to check your answer.

So well done if you put stealing food because of poverty might be seen as a result of need rather than greed.

And that a difficult upbringing might lead people to commit crimes because they were not taught right from wrong.

For Task A, I'd like you to identify one way poverty can lead to crime.

Explain why it can cause crime, and also include an example of how it might lead someone to commit a crime.

Secondly, I'd like you to identify one way upbringing can lead to crime, and again, explain why it can cause crime and include an example of how it might lead someone to commit to crime.

So pause the video, take your time to think about each of those causes of crime.

Come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

You could have said, for one: Poverty can cause crime because when people cannot afford essentials like food or clothing, they may steal to survive.

For example, someone might shoplift food to feed their family when they have no money.

And for two: Growing up in a violent or abusive environment can increase the risk of later violent behaviour.

For example, someone who witnesses domestic abuse as a child might be more likely to commit assault as an adult.

So well done if you managed to come up with an example for each of those causes of crime.

Let's move on to the second part of our lesson, responses to causes of crime.

Christians try to answer questions about crime by consulting sorters of authority, such as the Bible and Church teachings.

They might also use their conscience and reason, which they see as God-given gifts and consider non-religious arguments to work out what to do.

They may interpret the sources differently or emphasise one more than another.

Let's look at Bible teachings as a source of wisdom and authority.

Proverbs 30:8-9 says, "Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

Otherwise I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal and so dishonour the name of my God." This passage recognises that poverty can lead people to commit crimes such as theft.

It suggests that extreme need may tempt someone to act wrongly, although not necessarily out of evil intent, out of desperation.

However, it does say that this dishonours God, so the action remains wrong even if the cause is understandable.

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they're old, they will not turn from it." So it clearly highlights the importance of a good upbringing in shaping a person's moral choices.

It suggests that if children are raised with strong values and guidance, they're more likely to make good decisions in later life.

Is this statement true or false? The Bible teaches that poverty can be a cause of crime.

Take a moment, think about those teachings and also have a think about why the statement might be true or false, as well as whether it is true or false.

Come back when you're ready to check your answer.

So well done if you spotted it was true, but why is it true? Well, it's true because Proverbs 30:8-9, as we just saw, says, "I may become poor and steal, and so dishonour the name of my God," showing that poverty can lead someone to commit a crime like stealing.

Different Christian denominations agree that poverty needs to be tackled in order to reduce crime.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2,448 states that poverty, injustice, and inequality must be challenged.

Pope Francis said that social and economic exclusion creates fertile ground for crime.

In its report, "Justice, Mercy, and Punishment," the Methodist Church states that criminal behaviour is often linked to social injustice.

It advocates for social programmes that address the underlying causes of crime, including poverty.

Denominations also agree that a difficult upbringing can cause crime.

The Orthodox Church teaches that children should be raised in the nurture of the Church.

St.

John Chrysostom, a Church father, wrote that parents must raise children in virtue, warning neglect can lead to sin and ruin.

The Church of England teach that children need a loving and stable home.

The baptism service calls on parents to raise children in the faith.

Anglican bishops have also warned that family breakdown and lack of early support can increase the risk of offending.

There are non-religious, secular, and religious organisations that work on issues surrounding poverty and upbringing.

Catch 22 tackles crime by addressing poverty and upbringing as key causes.

It supports young people who are not in education or employment.

It provides family support.

And it runs youth justice programmes and mentoring.

The Salvation Army is a Christian denomination and it's a charity and it works to address the causes of crime.

It provides food banks and emergency housing.

It offers family support and parenting services, and it runs rehabilitation programmes for drug and alcohol addiction.

Gemma is a member of the Salvation Army and she's explaining her response to poverty and upbringing as causes of crime.

Gemma says, "If someone grows up in a home where there is no stability, no guidance, and barely enough money for food or clothes, they are much more likely to struggle later in life.

At the Salvation Army, we try to break that cycle.

We offer food banks, emergency housing and support for families so that children can grow up with the care and structure they need." So what does the Salvation Army do to help people break the cycle of crime? Pause the video, reread what Gemma said, and then come back.

When you are ready to move on.

I'd like you to name one Christian or secular organisation that works to respond either to poverty or upbringing as a cause of crime.

So pause the video if you need to, come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

You could have said The Salvation Army or Catch 22.

So well done if you got either of those examples.

Here are two arguments for and two against the statement "Poverty explains crime, but it does not excuse it." Arguments for: Even if someone is living in poverty, they can choose not to break the law.

And allowing poverty as an excuse for crime could create unfairness as everyone should be held to the same standard.

Arguments against: When people cannot afford basic needs, crime may feel like the only option, and helping people out of poverty is more effective than blaming or punishing them.

Here are two arguments for and two against the statement "You cannot blame someone for crime if they were not taught right from wrong." Arguments for: Someone who is not taught any morals cannot know whether what they're doing is right.

A difficult upbringing can lead someone to think crime is normal.

Arguments against: Even with a bad upbringing, people usually know what's right and wrong.

An upbringing may influence someone to commit a crime, but it doesn't excuse it.

Let's check your understanding.

Is this true or false? An argument in support of the view that difficult upbringing can reduce responsibility for crime is that even with a bad upbringing, people usually know what's right and wrong.

So take a moment, think about whether it's true or false, and also think about why.

Come back when you are ready to check your answer.

Well done if you put false.

So why is it false? Well, because if people usually know what's right and wrong despite a difficult upbringing, it's supporting the idea that they have responsibility, rather than excusing their responsibility.

For part one of our task, I'd like you to explain two similar religious beliefs about upbringing as a cause of crime.

Now we've used Christianity, so you're going to use two beliefs from Christianity.

To answer this question, you might want to use as suggestions below: Point and develop.

So your first point might be "Some Christians," or you could insert the name of the group and develop will be "This means.

." and your second point, "Other Christians," or again, insert the name of the group, and "This means.

." So take your time, pause the video, come back when you're ready to see what you could have put.

Some Christians such as Catholics, believe that upbringing plays a key role in causing crime because the family is the first place where children learn about right or wrong.

Without a loving family, children may struggle to make good choices later in life, increasing the risk that they will commit crimes.

Other Christians such as Methodists also teach that a poor upbringing can lead to criminal behaviour.

They believe that those raised in unstable or neglectful environments are more vulnerable to offending.

As a result, Methodist support, family support programmes and early intervention to provide children with the care and stability they need to avoid crime.

So well done if you managed to explain two similar Christian beliefs about upbringing as a cause of crime.

Here is a full evaluation question.

Poverty explains crime, but it does not excuse it.

Evaluate the statement.

In your answer, you: should give reasoned arguments in support of this statement, should give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view, should refer to religious arguments, may refer to non-religious arguments, should reach a justified conclusion.

Jacob has started his answer, but he needs help supporting his points.

Now I'd like you to give him help by adding sources of authority to his answer.

So his first point is, "Most Christians agree with the statement because the Bible teaches this in Proverbs 30:9-8 which says.

." And his second, "The Catholic Church teaches that poverty is a root cause of crime." And his third, "The Salvation Army aimed to reduce crime caused by poverty by.

." So take your time to think about how you could link that source of authority into Jacob's answer to improve his argument in that evaluation question.

Pause the video, come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

So for the first point, Most Christians agree with the segment because the Bible teaches this in Proverbs 30:8-9 which says, you should have quoted, "Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

Otherwise I may become pour and steal and so dishonour the name of my God." This shows that poverty can push people towards crime.

The second point, the Catholic Church teaches that poverty is a root cause of crime.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2,448, says the Church must care for people living in poverty and challenge injustice and inequality.

And Pope Francis said crime grows in places where there is social and economic exclusion.

And for the last point, the Salvation Army aims to reduce crime caused by poverty, by.

providing food banks, emergency housing and debt advice, as well as offering family support and parenting services.

So well done if you managed to develop those sources of authority that Jacob was attempting to refer to.

In today's lesson, we have learned that poverty can lead to crime through desperation, such as stealing food or drug dealing to survive.

A difficult upbringing, including neglect or violence, can normalise criminal behaviour.

The Bible teaches that poverty can tempt people to steal, Proverbs 30:8-9, and stresses the value of a good upbringing, Proverbs 22:6.

Different churches agree that a stable home is important and that the causes of poverty should be addressed.

Charities like the Salvation Army and Catch 22 tackle poverty and upbringing as causes of crime by offering food, housing, and youth support.

Thank you for all of your efforts today.

I've really enjoyed working with you.