What is Multiple factor theory?

Explain Social & Psychological factors

at length.
OR
Explain ‘Multiple factor theory of Crime.’
OR
According to Edwin Sutherland, “No Single theory can offer a
satisfactory explanation for crime and crime causation.” Explain
Multiple factor theory of crime.
OR
What is Multiple factor theory? Enlist all the factors and discuss any
four at length.
A: Introduction:
A crime is an illegal act that is punished by a legal authority. A crime is an
act that is harmful to the person who commits the crime as well as to the
society, community, or state. Crime is caused due to various reasons that
may force an individual to commit it to fulfill its needs. The contribution of
science in law is very much significant. Criminal law is also a sphere of law
which is highly influenced by science because it deals with the conscience
of human beings and one of the main ingredients of committing a crime is
considered to be a mens rea which means ‘guilty mind’ or a work done with
a malafide intention and there remains some causes that lead to the
commission of crime.
Crime Causation:
Crime causation is a discouraging and multiplex field. For centuries,
philosophers have required the meaning of the conception of causes as it
regards human behaviour. Modern crimes cause models to favour an
interdisciplinary lens that recognises how different fields complement,
rather that contract with one another. This approach acknowledged that no
single theory can explain all the types of criminality nor the legal and moral
issues that convoy them.
Multiple factor approach of crime:
Prof. Ediwn H. Sutherland has propounded that no single theory can offer a
satisfactory explanation for crime causation. Therefore, in absence of single
theory of crime causation, criminologists have offered different
explanations to justify their own theory to explain delinquent behaviour.
Eventually, the sociologist made use of ‘Multiple factor approach’ to
explain the causation crime. the supporter of this view believe that crime is
a product of a combination of variety of factors which cannot be narrated in
terms of general propositions. This view finds support from the writings of
Eminent American Criminologist Willian Healey observed that it is not one
or two factors which in turn a man delinquent but it is a combination of
many more factors say eight or ten which cumulatively influence him to
follow criminal conduct. The factor that leads to the causation of crime as
per multiple factor theory are –
1. Ecological factors
Ecology may be defined as the study of relationship between organisms and
their physical and social environments. Social (or human) ecology of crime
may be defined as the study of the social and behavioural consequences of
the interaction between human beings and their environment. It explores
how the exposure to different environments influences human development
and action. Following are certain ecological factors that affect the crime
causation.
a Drug trafficking on borders
The global drug trade is a major problem that has put security and law
enforcement agencies on high alert worldwide, including in India.
Trafficking takes places overwhelming through borders, given the
vulnerability of borders. India is location between the transit of two groups
of drug trafficking nations which are called as golden crescent (including
nations like Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan) and golden triangle (including
states like Vietnam, Thailand Laos and Myanmar). These position of India
serves as a transit route makes it vulnerable to drug trafficking. Eg. Punjab
and Gujrat has large number of drug addicts and suppliers.
b Naxalite Movement
Naxalite is the biggest security problem for India’s futures as it effects are
multi-layered. Naxalites are common people who want equal social
financial status for all. The Naxalites are mostly operative in rural and
Adivasi regions. They are usually found in the area where there is a forest
cover. Because of remoteness and difficulty to reach the tribal areas the
development of tribal people stands on no footing which makes them feel
alienated and excluded which in turn aids to the growth of the Naxalism in
those areas.
c Slum Areas
Slum also known as informal settlements, are areas characterised by poor
living conditions, inadequate infrastructure, and high levels of poverty.
Unfortunately, these conditions often lead to high rates of crime and
violence. People living in these areas lack basic necessities such as food,
water and electricity. This lack of resources can lead to a sense of
hopelessness and desperation, which may push individuals to engage in
criminal behaviour or fall prey to the criminal organisations. There is a high
incidence of drinking, gambling, beggary, theft and sex offences in slum
areas.
2. Political factors
If politics is the authoritative allocation of values, then crime and politics
are inextricably linked. Crime can be seen as a political phenomenon,
influenced by policies and power structures, and with the potential to shape
and be shaped by political events. The influence of politics on crime can be
seen at all levels, from local to national and international level. The symbol
of crime affect the nature of political promise and expectation.
a Separate Political Ideology
No political party has any religion or belief of any ideology. Their only
motive is to gain as many votes as they can to stay in power. Sometimes for
the same they create sense of animosity in public for other parties. When
people having faith in different political party meet, in order to show their
party worthy they tend to shame/defame other party which in turn leads to
fight between the two groups.
Eg. When Raj Thackrey broke off from Shiv Sena the leading party of
Maharashtra and formed new party as MNS. The people who chose to
continue supporting Shiv Sena and the people who continue to join MNS
broke into fight which later led to lockdown in several parts of
Maharashtra.
 b Incitement from the leader
Being the spoke person of a large community politicians hold power in their
words as they are followed and supported by the public at large. This power
is sometimes abused by the leaders. Politicians deepen existing divides
when they use inflammatory languages such as hate speech and this makes
the societies more likely to experience political violence.
Eg. The India & Pakistan is the perfect example of the power of hate speech
from the political leaders. It not only divided the nation in two but also
turned the people against each other who once considered each other
brothers despite their religion.
c Policies and quota
When a party is elected the public who gave their vote expect those parties
to work for their betterment and when it is not achieved the society whose
voices are not heard get agitated. To achieve the ends of betterment they
choose to go on a violent path taking law in their hands.
Eg. The recent incident in Mizoram, people are fighting for the quota which
lead to riots and homicide burning the state in flames.
3. Social factors
Criminality is the product of social and cultural cause. The majority of
crime and violence is cause due to the social atmosphere. Family
background, peer rejection and cultural conflicts trigger an increase in
crime and violent activity, impeding an individuals moral & social growth.
a Peer Rejection
The folk wisdom to ‘avoid bad comparisons’ has long been the traditional
admonition from parents and other concerned adults. The children who are
rejected by peers consequently shows an violent behaviour which makes
them gullible to any friendly company they come across if these company
is good then all is well but when that company leads to a wrong path the
individual tend to become a high profile criminal.
b Parent/Family Background
Sutherland holds that out of all the social processes, the family background
has perhaps the greatest influence on criminal behaviour of the offender.
The reason being that children spend most of their time with their parents
and relatives within the family. Children are apt to imbibe criminal
tendencies, if the children brought up in a broken family is likely to fall an
easy prey to criminality.
c Cultural conflicts
In a dynamic society social change is an inevitable phenomenon. The
impact of modernisation, urbanisation and industrialisation in modern
dynamic society may sometimes result in social disorganisation and this
may lead culture conflicts between different sections of society. The
inability of local communities to appreciate the common values of their
residents or solve commonly experienced problems causes tension leading
to deviant behaviours. This is how criminal traditions get embedded into the
functioning of a how community and they co-exist alongside conventional
values.
4. Psychological factors
The psychological factors in criminality are related to genetic and
constitutional causes and to personality and other sources of individual
differences. These are of critical importance in relation both causes of crime
and its control. Lack of attachment, lack of empathy & ADHD are some
psychological contributing factors that can lead to criminal deviant.
a Lack of attachment
The early relationship between an infant and a caregiver largely determines
a psychological risk factor within the individual problems with attachment
apparently are related to deficiencies in caregiving by adults in the child’s
life. The children with lack of attachment as an adult wants close
relationship with their space and tend to become obsessive. Fear of loss or
separation can generate strong feelings of anxiety and rage in the offender,
often resulting in violent actions.
b Lack of Empathy
Empathy is perceived as existing along two dimensions: affective and
cognitive. Deficiencies in empathy have long been considered characteristic
of persistently aggressive and anti-social individuals. Deficiency in both
dimensions appears to be most strongly related to violence and persistent
criminal behaviour. Animal cruelty is the early sign of lack of empathy in
children and those children turned out to be an criminal as an adults. Most
serial killer have shown the signs of animal cruelty during their childhood.
c ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) includes a variety of
behaviour. The central three are 1. Inattention 2. Impulsivity and 3.
Excessive motor activity. Children who have been diagnosed with ADHD
have difficulty staying focused. They engage serious anti-social behaviour
as adults. It has been observed that a very large number of ADHD children
self-report delinquent behaviour by early adolescence.
R v Blaue (1975) - This case involved a defendant who stabbed a woman
who refused to engage in sexual activity with him. The victim was a
Jehovah's Witness who refused a blood transfusion on religious grounds,
and ultimately died as a result of her injuries. The defendant argued that the
victim's refusal of medical treatment broke the chain of causation, but the
court disagreed and held that the defendant was still responsible for the
victim's death.

Criticism of Multiple Factor Approach:

The Multiple factor approach has been criticised by many scholars.
American Criminologist William Healey noted that all the factors
associated with a particular crime may not have equal importance as a
cause of that crime. the extent of their influence on crime may be in varying
degrees, some exerting greater influence on the crime while the others, the
least. Albert Cohen criticised the theory mainly on following points:-
1. The advocates of multiple factor approach have confused a single
theory with single – factor explanations. A single theory does not
necessarily explain crime in terms of a single factor. Theories are
concerned with ‘variables’ and ‘factors’ and a single theory usually
incorporates a number of different variables. To explain crime, we
need theories which consists of logically related propositions assertion
particular relationships among a number of variables.
2. Cohen objected to a major assumption of the multi-factor approach,
namely, that factor have intrinsic crime – producing qualities. But
Cohen argues that not only the factor has no intrinsic crime-
 producing qualities but also, they should not be confused with causes.
Causal power cannot be assumed on the basis of a discovery that a
certain factor or combination of factors, shows a statistical association
of crime.
3. Many, if not most, multi-factor studies that of ‘evil causes’. The
fallacious notion is that evil consequences (crime) must have evil
precedents (biological pathologies, low IQ, Pathological mental states,
poor living conditions).

State of Rajasthan v. Kashi Ram (1994) - In this case, the defendant

and his accomplices beat a man with sticks and stones, causing his death.
The defendant argued that the victim's death was caused by a pre-
existing heart condition, but the court held that the assault was the
immediate cause of death and therefore the defendant was guilty of
murder.

Conclusion:
The Multiple factor theory in criminology grew out of discrepancies in
single factor approach. Its adherent agreed that crime should be
understood in terms of varied contributions made by a variety of many
factors. Here the assumption is that crime is the product of many factors
biological, psychological, economic and social and those different
crimes will be the result of different combinations of factors.