Biological Roots of Criminal Behaviour PDF

Chapter 6 Biological Roots of Criminal Behaviour PPT Created by Karen Moreau Niagara College 6-1  Learning Objectives 6.1 Identify the basic principles that characterize biological theories of crime causation. 6.2 Understand how biological perspectives might explain...

Chapter 6 Biological Roots of Criminal Behaviour PPT Created by Karen Moreau Niagara College 6-1  Learning Objectives 6.1 Identify the basic principles that characterize biological theories of crime causation. 6.2 Understand how biological perspectives might explain human aggression. 6.3 Be aware of the research linking genetics and crime. 6.4 Consider the contribution of sociobiology to the study of criminality. 6.5 Explain how criminality can be explained from a biosocial perspective. 6.6 Identify modern-day social policy which reflects the biological approach to crime causation. 6.7 Assess the shortcomings of the biological theories of criminal behaviour. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6-2  Biological Theories Table 6.1 Biological Theories Theory Early Constitutional Body Sociobiology Biosocial Positivism Theories Chemistry Criminology Theories Period 1890s-1930 1930s-1940s; 1940s - 1975-present 1987-present 1960’s-present present Theorists Franz Joseph Ernst Kretschmer Ellen G. Edwin O. James Q. Gall etc. etc. Cohen etc. Wilson Wilson, Richard J. Herrnstein Concepts Phrenology, Somatotyping, Conduct Altruism, Constitutional atavism, born mesomorph, norms, focal tribalism, factors, criminals, ectomorph, concerns, survival of the genetic criminaloids endomorph, XYY subculture, gene pool inheritance supermale, twin socialization, studies subculture of violence Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6-3  Biological Roots of Human Aggression Konrad Lorenz Well-known for his work on aggression. Adapted instinctive behaviour. Crime results from: overcrowded living conditions. no legitimate way to express aggression. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6-4  Early Biological Theories 1. The brain is the organ of the mind. 2. Particular aspects of personality are associated with specific locations in the brain. 3. Criminal Anthropology. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6-5  Early Biological Theories Criminal Anthropology The relationship between human physical characteristics and criminality. Phrenology The shape of the head determines anatomical correlates of human behaviour. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6-6  The Positivist School Cesare Lombroso (1836-1909) Atavism Criminals are physiological throwbacks to earlier stages of human evolution. Positivism Application of scientific techniques to the study of crime and criminals. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6-7  Biological Roots of Criminal Behaviour Body Types. Chemical and Environmental Precursors. Hormones. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6-8  Body Types Somatotyping and four basic body types: Endomorph. Mesomorph. Ectomorph. Balanced type. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6-9 Somatotypes Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6 - 10  Chemical and Environmental Precursors Studies of nutrition, endocrinology, and environmental contaminants have contributed to advances in understanding behaviour. Contributors: Blood sugar levels Allergies Vitamin deficiencies Environmental pollution Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6 - 11  Hormones and Criminality Testosterone: Male sex hormone linked to aggression. Serotonin: Drop in serotonin levels in the female brain prior to menstruation explain the agitation and irritability associated with premenstrual syndrome. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6 - 12  Genetics and Crime Criminal Families XYY “Supermale” Twin Studies Adoption Studies Male-Female Differences Sociobiology Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6 - 13  Criminal Families Early scholars focused on criminal families or families that appeared to exhibit criminal tendencies through several generations. Eugenics: a branch of criminology that held that the root causes of criminality were largely passed from generation to generation in the form of “bad genes.” Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6 - 14  The XYY “Supermale” Characteristics of Supermales: Taller than average. Acne or other skin disorders. Below average intelligence. Over-representation in prisons and mental hospitals. Family with above average history of crime or mental illness. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6 - 15  Twin Studies Fraternal twins: Dizygotic (DZ) twins. develop from a separate ovum. share only the genetic material common among siblings. Identical twins: Monozygotic (MZ) twins. Develop from the same egg. carry virtually the same genetic material. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6 - 16  Male-Female Differences Testosterone increases violence and aggression. Gap between male and female crime rates narrowing. Genetically based behavioural differences between males and females overshadowed by socialization. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6 - 17  Sociobiology Territoriality Location. Possessions. Other people. Intragroup violence. Between group violence. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6 - 18  Sociobiology Criticisms: Fails to convey significance of culture, social learning, and individual experiences. No credible evidence of genetically based tendencies. Labeling and stigmatization of despised threatening , and powerless minorities. no basis for the application to humans of findings from animal studies. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6 - 19  Biosocial Criminology Factors that cause criminal behaviour: Gender. Age. Body type. Intelligence. personality. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6 - 20  Policy Implications Biological theories of crime causation present unique challenges to policy makers. Sole dependence on the biological theories of crime may lead to: abortion of defective fetuses. capital punishment instead of rehabilitation; or sterilization. Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc. 6 - 21