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Introduction to Criminology CRJ 270 Instructor: Jorge Pierrott

Introduction to Criminology CRJ 270 Instructor: Jorge Pierrott. Chapter Objectives. After reading this chapter, students should be able to answer the following questions: What are the differences between historical biological and contemporary biosocial theories of crime?

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Introduction to Criminology CRJ 270 Instructor: Jorge Pierrott

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  1. Introduction to Criminology CRJ 270 Instructor: Jorge Pierrott

  2. Chapter Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to answer the following questions: • What are the differences between historical biological and contemporary biosocial theories of crime? • What are the basic principles of biological theories of crime? • How does the positivist school explain criminality? • How does sociobiology explain crime, and what is the importance of altruism, territoriality and tribalism in that perspective • What are the policy implications of biological theories? • What are some criticisms of early biological theories of criminal behavior?

  3. Traditional Biological versus Modern Biosocial Theories • Criminology has been slow to give credence to biological theories • Roots grounded in the social sciences • Criminology today is interdisciplinary and recognizes contributions from many disciplines

  4. Diet and Behavior • 2012 – Dutch Ministry of Justice examined the link between good nutrition and antisocial behavior among prison inmates. • Bernard Gesch’s research – Oxford University • 500 inmates were studied • Good diets with low sugar content • 26.3% fewer offenses • 35.1% reduction in overall offenses in groups receiving supplements • 37% drop of violent offenses

  5. Principles of Biological Theories • Early biological theorists focused mainly on physical features and heredity • Contemporary biosocial theorists take a more in-depth look at human biology • Major distinction is the emphasis placed on the interplay between biology and the social and physical environments

  6. Figure 4-2 Fundamental Assumptions of Biological Theories of Crime CausationSource: Schmalleger, Frank J., Criminology. Printed and Electronically reproduced by permission of Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

  7. Early Biological Theories • Built on scientific tradition of positivism • Positivism • Associated with the belief that all valid knowledge is acquired only through observation. • Build on: • An unflagging acceptance of social determinism or consider free will and external forces as the cause of behavior • The application of scientific techniques to the study of crime and criminology.

  8. Early Biological Theories • Key principles • Social determinism • Early biological theories consider the role of the social environment to be relatively minor • Application of scientific techniques to the study of crime

  9. Physical Features and Crime • Focus on identifying physical abnormalities that could be used to distinguish offenders from others continued on next slide

  10. Known Killers

  11. Physical Features and Crime • Phrenology • The study of the shape of the head to determine anatomical correlates of human behavior • Franz Joseph Gall – located the roots of personality in the brain • Johann Gaspar Spurzheim – brought phrenology to the U.S.

  12. The Italian School • Cesare Lombroso - atavism • Criminality is the result of primitive urges that survived the evolutionary process • Stigmata of degeneration – physical features indicative of criminality continued on next slide

  13. The Italian School • Criminaloids • “occasional criminals,” people led into crime by environmental influences • Masculinity hypothesis • Criminal women exhibited masculine features and mannerisms

  14. Evaluations of Atavism • Earnest A. Hooton • Criminals are physiologically inferior to the general population • Canadian atavism study (2000) found subtle physical abnormalities were associated with an increased risk of behavioral and psychiatric problems among boys

  15. Constitutional Theories • Explain criminality by reference to offenders' body types; genetics; or external, observable physical characteristics • Somatotyping • Ernst Kretschmer • William H. Sheldon

  16. Figure 4-3 Sheldon’s Body TypesSource: Printed and Electronically reproduced by permission of Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

  17. Criminal Families • Sir Francis Galton – systematic study of heredity  field of behavioral genetics • Criminal families • The Juke family – Richard L. Dugdale • The Kallikak family – Henry H. Goddard • Eugenic criminology • Root causes of criminality were passed down in the form of “bad genes.” • Buck v. Bell (1927)

  18. The XYY Supermale • Research in 1965 led to concept of “supermale” with XYY chromosome – considered potentially violent • Chromosome-based defense in court • Recent research demonstrates conclusively that XYY males are not predictably aggressive

  19. Twin Studies and Heredity • Twin studies compare MZ and DZ twins to examine role of heredity in crime causation • Research supports relationship between heredity and risk of criminality • Minnesota Twin Family Study found MZ twins reared apart are about as similar as those reared together

  20. Biological Roots of Human Aggression • Charles Darwin: • Interspecies aggression favors the strongest and best animals in the reproductive process • Konrad Lorenz – On Aggression (1966) • Human aggression serves other purposes but takes on covert forms (drive to acquire wealth and power) • Human behavior is adapted instinctive behavior

  21. Sociobiology: The New Synthesis • Introduced by Edward O. Wilson in 1975 • Systematic study of the biological basis of all social behavior • A new paradigm in criminological theories

  22. Sociobiology • The main determinant of behavior is the need to ensure the survival and continuity of genetic material throughout generations • Altruism facilitates the continuity of the gene pool continued on next slide

  23. Sociobiology • Territoriality as an explanation of human conflict • Used to explain both intergroup aggression (tribalism) and intragroup aggression

  24. Criticisms of Sociobiology • Fails to consider the significance of culture, social learning, individual experiences • Fundamentally wrong in its depiction of basic human nature • Rationalizes labeling, stigmatization of minorities continued on next slide

  25. Criticisms of Sociobiology • Humans are too different from other animal species to apply findings from animal studies to human behavior

  26. Critique of Early Biological Theories of Human Behavior • Disregard the role of free will in human behavior • Crime is a social construct and its meaning varies over time and place • Unlikely that any biological feature or combination of features could explain the wide variety of crime today

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