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 s
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 Analysis Mednick et al. (1984)

6. Molecular Genetics Gene Linkage Analysis The Human Genome Project
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 Biosocial Criminology
Eugenics (quotes from Hooten, others)
Biosocial Criminology
Biology may identify “high risk” kids
Prevention can target “social” factors