Biological Explanations “Heredity is one of the reasons that parents with problems often have children with problems” J. Harris 98:294

Quick facts… Chronic young offenders suffer twice the rate of psychiatric disorders Offenders tend to have lower levels of glucose uptake in prefrontal cortex Offenders tend to have abnormally high levels of seretonin in brain … suffer dietary imbalances

Introduction Limited attention among criminologists in N.A... a “positivistic-deterministic” framework … Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel … early dominance of sociology (Ch. 7) ! J.Q. Wilson and R.J. Herrnstein Crime and Human Nature

“….without a more interdisciplinary approach “sociological explanations incomplete, and inadequate as explanatory models” (p. 141) EARLY THEORIES Socrates and physiognomy Somatotyping … Jekyll and Hyde … atavism Francis Gall and phrenology Charles Goring and crime = heredity X environment

Body Types and Criminal Behaviour William Sheldon’s constitutional theory –Endomorph –Mesomorph –Ectomorph … body types and temperament Today life course theory

Chromosomes and Criminal Behaviour Biological defect either inherited or result of genetic mutation XX vs. XY ‘normal’ XXY (karotype) Klinefelter’s syndrome… R. Speck, D. Hugan, Sean Farley –Work of Sarnoff Mednick Incidence rare but…

Twins and Adoption Studies Why? Attempt to delineate role of biological influence(s) vs. environment Monozygotic vs. dizygotic twins … concordance rates (26-93% !predisposition) Adoption studies… Heredity link impressive but not conclusive Points to possible environmental triggers

Intelligence: “how a person behaves is determined by how he thinks. Criminals think differently” S. Samenow, ’84. R. Herrnstein ’89: The Bell Curve Gordon ’87: lower verbal IQ risk delinquency Radcliffe ’97: IQ and pH levels in cortex

Personality: How do we acquire our personality? Lenneberg ’67: possible biological foundation Numerous studies demonstrating a personality-crime association Herrnstein… “may have a heritable link”

Alcohol and Illicit Drugs: Man twice as likely to be treated for alcohol/drug abuse… crime Over half incarcerated in the ’90s consumed alcohol/drugs day of offence Caboret & Wesner ’90: genetic link to alcohol abuse Ethanol key link to aggression J. Axelrod ’89: cocaine fries neurotransmitter … drugs/alcohol act on but ? role of environment

Nutrition & Environmental Toxins: Dr. Rice ’95: “spend it feeding good food to young mothers-to-be” Crime and hypoglycemia – (low blood sugar) K. Smith ’97: low tryptophan diet Lo nsdale & Shamberger ’80: junk food and delinquency linked Walsh ’97: crime and excess zinc & copper

Manganese (voodoo metal) and violence –Groote Eyland pH levels and crime Acidifying diet and crime

Summary Emerged era of social control Humanitarian and utilitarian concerns..? Positivistic Biological predisposition with environmental influences “born criminal” Environment and genetic > neurochemical > behaviour

Another chapter done…