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Biology and Crime

Biology and Crime. Early Positivism: the legacy of the early 1900s Sociological Criticism and Dominance New Directions in Biological research Heredity research Biological Harms Biological Correlates Biosocial Theory. Early Biological Positivism. Lombroso’s “born criminal”

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Biology and Crime

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  1. Biology and Crime • Early Positivism: the legacy of the early 1900s • Sociological Criticism and Dominance • New Directions in Biological research • Heredity research • Biological Harms • Biological Correlates • Biosocial Theory

  2. Early Biological Positivism • Lombroso’s “born criminal” • Darwinist theory of “atavism” • Various theories of the “feeble-minded” • Charles Goring, E.A. Hooten • body stature and weight • The XYY supermale • Commonality of all these theories?

  3. Biology from 1940-1980s • Any hint of “biological research” was ridiculed, ignored, treated as “taboo.” • Current Sociologists? Criticism was warranted • Current Psychologists? “Knowledge destruction techniques” • 1990s-present: rebirth of biological research • Is modern biological research or theory any better?

  4. The Heritability of Crime • Family Studies • “Jukes,” and “Killikaks” (major flaws) • BUT – crime does appear to run in families • Twin Studies • Christianson (1977) • “Concordance” rates: MZ (36%), DZ (12%) • Criticism of twin studies? • Adoption studies • “cross fostering” analyses • criminal history of biological parents vs. adoptive parents

  5. Cross Fostering AnalysisMednick et al. (1984)

  6. Molecular Genetics • Gene Linkage Analysis • Hans Brunner and associates and the crazy Dutch family • However, such “one gene one disorder” (OGOD) situations unlikely to explain much crime • The Human Genome Project • Genome = the total DNA in an organism • Some evidence for genes related to “novelty seeking” and ADD/ADHD • Combinations of genes may “nudge” behavior

  7. Biological Harms • Prenatal or Perinatal insults • Maternal drinking/smoking, delivery complications, low birthweight, etc. • Exposure to toxins– lead • Especially for kids (brain/CNS still developing) • Sources of Lead Exposure • Cincinnati Lead Study (and others)

  8. Assuming that something is inherited or harmed... • Biological Correlates of Crime • Brain Activity & Central Nervous System • PET scans • Neurochemicals (serotonin) • Frontal Lobe = planning, self-monitoring, etc. • Autonomic Nervous System • Heart rate, skin conductance • Indirect measures (IQ, neuro-psych tests) • ADD/ADHD, personality traits .....

  9. Many things point to “arousal” • Simple explanation = under aroused seek out thrills (such as crime) • Related = higher level of fearlessness • Others = arousal may relate to conditioning • Mednick’s biosocial theory

  10. Mednick’s biosocial theory • Children refrain from crime when consistently socialized to do so (similar to?) • Parental efficacy (consistent rewards/punishment) and social context of parenting • Children have different “learning ability” • Some do not feel the “sting” of punishment • Low cortical arousal, low nesting heart rate, etc. • Potent mix = poor parenting and low arousal

  11. POLICY IMPLICATIONS • Early Positivism • Eugenics (quotes from Hooten, others) • Biosocial Criminology • Biology may identify “high risk” kids • Prevention can target “social” factors

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