Jacobs, B., and Wright, R. (1999). Stick-up, Street Culture, and Offender Motivation. Criminology, 37, 149-168. The purpose of this article is to understand the reasons, motivations, and decision processes for offenders committing such acts of robbery. Arguments made by the authors include the act of robbery stemming from the need for quick cash, which is many times shaped participation in street culture (Jacobs & Wright, 1999, p. 149). Motivation is described as the main variable for criminal behavior (Jacobs & Wright, 1999, p. 149). While examining the motives for robbery, many things pertaining to street culture arose. This article made it very clear that participation in street culture plays a huge role in the motives of those who decide …show more content…
However most of the crimes committed are economically motivated (Jacobs & Wright, 1999, p. 163). Robbery was found to be the response to how offenders view themselves as needing money (Jacobs & Wright, 1999, p. 163). It was also found that although street culture is main motivator for robberies, it is often overlooked (Jacobs & Wright, 1999, p. 165). It was also found that offenders are sometimes drained by their own situations (Jacobs & Wright, 1999, p. 167). Whether it be financial, emotional, or pharmacological, robbery is seen to them as a way out of that situation (Jacobs & Wright, 1999, p. 167). Lastly, it was found that being a street robber is an approach of life that includes ways of thinking and behaving (Jacobs & Wright, 1999, p. 167-168). In this article, the authors indicated that their findings supported the central purpose of the sample. Included was the many different reasons street robbers choose to live the lifestyle in which they rob people on a daily basis. Based on the studies conducted, the authors were able to prove that street culture assists with shaping and activating the decision to commit robbery (Jacobs & Wright, 1999, p.