Return to JT's homepage
Note: You can find a powerpoint version of
this theory here
It's from another text, but the material is nearly identical. It might
be easier.
SCHMALLEGER: CHAPTER 5 - Biological Roots
--REVIEW Classical/Neo-classical school
Another way of "explaining" deviant behavior is the biological approach.
In this view, we act in certain ways because we are programmed by biology
(eg, genes, innate features such as aggression). Basic principles:
1) The brain is the primary organ of behavior, so we must examine
neurology and neurochemistry.
2) Gender and racial differences in crime might be partially the result
of hard-wiring
3) "Criminogenic behavior" might be inherited
4) Much of human conduct is grounded in genetic/instinctive responses
(eg, agression, territoriality, sex drives)
5) Biological roots of behavior have become disguised by norms and
symbolic labelling (culture)
6) At least some human behavior might be part of evolutionary development
process
7) Interplay among heredity, biological, and social environment should
all be examined
BIOLOGICAL ROOTS
--Are we born "aggressive?"
a) Darwin: Founder of evolutionary theory/survival of the fittest
and propensity toward aggression
b) Conrad Lorenz (we are innately aggressive): We should examine crime
as a response to environment obstacles and look also at social control
--Early Biological Theories
a) Phrenology (bumps on the head; belief that barin is the organ of the
mind, and we can study it by looking at shape/size of skull)
b) Early Positivism (People are actived upon); Lombroso (1836-1909)
saw crime as "atavism," throwback to earlier stages of our development.
He systematized the scientific study of criminal behavior and developed
method of systematic observation, explanation, testing, and prediction
c) Body types (Somatotyping): Ernst Kretschmer; William Sheldon. Sheldon
developed Endomorph (soft/roun(; Mesomorph (athletic/muscular) and
ectomorph (thin, fragile). Mesomorphs most likely to be criminal
(See Charles Darwin and Conrad Lawrence)
--Chemical and Environmental sources: this goes back a half-century.
Basic premises: Body responds to chemicals (eg, sugar, lead, allergies,
toxins such as alcohol). Examples: Food additives; "twinkies;" Lead in
the environment.
--Hormones
Males/testosterone; women as "hormonal"
--Weather
--Genetics (crime is hereditary): Bad seed, XYY "supermale"; criminogenic
families
--Male/Female crime differences
--Sociolobiology: Basic premise: Crime a mix of of social and biological
factors that interact (eg, sex, age, personality, intelligence, body types)
EXAMINE: POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Return to JT's homepage
Page maintained by: Jim Thomas - jthomas@sun.soci.niu.edu