What are the individualist and collectivist approaches to crime?
There are different ways of viewing crime. The two main approaches are individualist and collectivist.
What is the individualist view of crime?
Individualists tend to focus on personal weakness as the reason a crime is committed. If someone chooses to offend, that is their responsibility and if caught, they should suffer the consequences. Individualists believe that if punishments were stronger and the police and courts had more powers, there would be less crime.
What is the collectivist view of crime?
Collectivists feel society is unequal and some people are at a greater risk of being influenced by criminal behaviour, often through the actions of parents, friends or community.
In order to tackle crime, collectivists feel that social conditions which make criminal behaviour more likely need to be addressed. This could be through better housing, improved employment opportunities and a more equal society which would make crime less of an attraction. If people are in work, have what they need and are content with life they will be less likely to break the law.
What approaches have recent governments taken?
Most recent governments at a UK and Scottish level see merit in both individualist and collectivist beliefs. They accept that there are underlying causes of crime, but individuals also need to accept responsibility for their actions.
It is the government's job to tackle crime, both its causes and how to deal with those found guilty of breaking the law. Sometimes government ministers talk of the need to be tougher on criminals. For example, in 2023 UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated in a Downing Street press release, that there would be more immediate punishments for offenders, with criminals paying for their crimes as soon as 48 hours after they had been committed.
Governments also accept that some of the underlying causes of crime, such as poverty and inequality, and the effect these have on increasing criminality, need to be addressed. In Scotland, the Scottish Government published its Vision for Justice in Scotland plan in 2022. This makes reference to the need to address the circumstances which perpetuate crime and harm.
