Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6-1 Chapter 6 Biological Roots of Criminal Behaviour

Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6-2 Early Biological Theories Criminal Anthropology The scientific study of the relationship between human physical characteristics and criminality.

Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6-3 Early Biological Theories Phrenology Held that the shape of the skull was indicative of an individual’s personality and could be used to predict criminal behaviour.

Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6-4 Early Biological Theories Positivist School atavism criminals are regarded as physiological throwbacks to earlier states of human evolution Cesare Lombroso ( )

Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6-5 Biological Roots of Criminal Behaviour Body Types endomorph, mesomorph, ectomorph Chemical and Environmental Precursors eating habits, vitamin deficiencies, blood sugar levels (Continued)

Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6-6 Biological Roots of Criminal Behaviour (Continued) Hormones and Criminality Testosterone, pre-menstrual syndrome

Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6-7 Genetics and Crime Criminal Families Jukes, Kallikak families XYY “Supermale” Twin Studies Monozygotic, dizygotic twins Adoption Studies Male-Female Differences

Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6-8 Genetics and Crime Sociobiology the systematic study of the biological basis of all social behaviour the primary determinant of behaviour is the need to ensure survival and continuity of genetic material from one generation to the next

Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6-9 Crime and Human Nature

Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6-10 Policy Implications Biological theories of crime causation present unique challenges to policy makers. They focus on the treatment of the individual rather than the contributing environmental factors.