Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc Biological Roots of Criminal Behaviour Chapter 6
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc Biological Roots of Human Aggression Konrad Lorenz Well-known for his work on aggression. Adapted instinctive behaviour. Crime results from: ► overcrowded living conditions, ► no legitimate way to express aggression.
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc Early Biological Theories ► Criminal Anthropology ► Phrenology ► The Positivist School
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc Criminal Anthropology The scientific study of the relationship between human physical characteristics and criminality. The scientific study of the relationship between human physical characteristics and criminality.
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc Phrenology Franz Joseph Gall ( ) ► Shape of human skull could predict criminality. ► The roots of personality are in the brain. ► Scientific understanding. ► Systematic evaluation.
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc The Positivist School Cesare Lombroso ( ) ► Atavism ► Positivism ► Bodily features predictive of criminal behaviour.
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc Biological Roots of Criminal Behaviour ► Body Types ► Chemical and Environmental Precursors ► Hormones
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc Body Types Somatotyping Four basic body types: Endomorph Mesomorph Ectomorph Balanced type
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc Chemical and Environmental Precursors ► Blood sugar levels ► Allergies ► Vitamin deficiencies ► Environmental pollution
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc Hormones and Criminality ► Testosterone ► Serotonin Premenstrual syndrome
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc Genetics and Crime ► Criminal Families ► XYY “Supermale” ► Twin Studies ► Adoption Studies ► Male-Female Differences ► Sociobiology
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc Criminal Families ► The Juke family ► The Kallikak family ► Eugenics
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc The XYY “Supermale” ► Taller than average. ► Acne or skin disorders. ► Low IQ. ► Over-represented in prisons and mental hospitals. ► Families with low history of crime or mental illness.
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc Twin Studies Karl Christiansen and Sarnoff Mednick 1968 ► Criminal tendencies are inherited. ► Monozygotic twins ► Dizygotic twins
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc Adoption Studies Examine genetic factors and environmental contributors. Mednick, Gabrielli and Hutchings ► Criminality is genetic.
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc Male-Female Differences ► Testosterone increases violence and aggression. ► Gap between male and female crime rates narrowing. ► Genetically based behavioural differences between males and females overshadowed by socialization.
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc Sociobiology ► Territoriality Location Possessions Other people ► Intragroup violence ► Between group violence
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc Crime and Human Nature
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc Policy Implications Biological theories of crime causation present unique challenges to policy makers. Sole dependence on the biological theories of crime may lead to: abortion of defective fetuses; capital punishment instead of rehabilitation; or sterilization.