4 Early Biological Perspectives on Criminal Behavior

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

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

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

Early Biological Theories Built on scientific tradition of positivism Positivism associated with the belief that all valid knowledge is acquired only through observation Key principles Social determinism Application of scientific techniques to the study of crime

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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