Biological and Psychological Theories of Crime

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Biological and PsychologicalTheories of Crime
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Franz Joseph Gall (1758-1828)

• Phrenology

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Cesare Lombroso (1835-1909)Atavistic Criminals

• Skull larger or smaller than average
• Prominent frontal sinuses
• Excessively large jaws and cheekbones
• Arm span exceeds height
• Shifty eyes
• Unusually large or small ears

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Earnest A. Hooton (1887-1954)

• Tattooing is more common among criminals
• Few criminals have dark or blue eyes
• High narrow nasal roots
• Marked overbites are rarer in criminals
• Extreme variations of ear protrusion

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William Sheldon (1898-1977)

• SOMATOTYPES
• 1. Endomorph
• 2. Mesomorph
• 3. Ectomorph

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Sheldons Somatotypes
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Richard DugdaleThe Jukes A Study in Crime
Pauperism, Heredity

• Ada Jukes
• 280 Paupers
• 60 Theives
• 7 Murderers
• 40 Other Criminals
• 40 w/ Venereal Diseases
• 50 Prostitutes

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Henry GoddardThe Kallikak Family (1912/1955)

• 480 Descendants
• 36 illegitimate
• 33 prostitutes
• 24 alcoholics
• 3 epileptics
• 82 died in infancy
• 3 criminals

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Biological Research Focus

• genetic influences
• steroid hormones e.g., testosterone
• neurotransmitters
• neuroanatomical abnormalities
• brain dysfunction
• hyperglycemia and diet

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Psychology Explaining Criminal Behavior

• Individual
• Personality
• Abnormal Thoughts
• diseased mind
• inappropriate learning
• inappropriate role models
• inner conflicts
• Purpose of Behavior

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Antisocial Personality Disorder

• Inability to Feel Guilt
• Unreliability
• Chronic Lying
• Superficial Charm
• Above Average Intelligence
• Self Centered

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Diagnostic Statistical Manual

• Before age 15
• truant
• run away
• physical fights
• used a weapon in a fight
• forced sex
• cruel to animals/people
• fire-setting

• After Age 15
• unemployed
• failure to conform to social norms
• irritable/aggressive
• no regard for truth
• reckless
• irresponsible
• impulsive

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ETIOLOGY

• Malfunctioning Central Nervous System
• Low State of Arousal
• Brain Abnormalities
• Inability to Form Attachments
• Separation From Mother in Childhood Rejection by
  Parents

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Psychological Theories

• Social Learning
• Albert Bandura
• Modeling Behavior
• Aggression

• Behaviorism
• B.F. Skinner
• Operant Conditioning
• Positive rewards
• Negative rewards
• Punishment