Biosocial criminology
Encyclopedia
Biosocial criminology is a subfield of criminology
and sociology
. While many sociologists and criminologists focus on the role of environmental
effects as primarily responsible for causing crime, the influence of biology
on crime
is also often studied. Biosocial theories may argue, for example, that humans predisposed by their genes
to taking risk
s may also be predisposed to criminal behavior.
argued that criminals are unevolved
, "barbaric" humans who can be identified by shared, "primitive", physical characteristics. With the passage of time and the advent of the 20th century, the nature vs nurture argument came to be dominated by the nurture faction, and theories related to the importance of biology on criminal behavior were seen as obsolete. In the second half of the twentieth century, however, such theories began to be revisited. While no longer doubting the significant impact of environmental factors, arguments were brought forward once more focusing on the possible importance of certain biological factors, such as specific genes
.
secretions or brain wave patterns
.
Linda Mealey, a representative of the "evolutionary forces" school, suggested that some human males - psychopaths - display alternative reproductive strategies; which can be described as engaging in various lawless acts throughout their life, particularly in their youth, that would usually, if known, lessen their chances of finding a reproductive partner. However, by the use of deception (creating false images of themselves towards their mates and society), and success in assaulting rivals and accumulating property and status, they manage to reproduce successfully.
Lee Ellis, a representative of the "neurologically specific theories" school, proposed the neocortex
hemispheric functioning theory, which argues that people with an underdeveloped left hemisphere of the brain (linked with more linguistic skills and social behaviors) are more likely to engage in crime. As the hemispheres control opposite sides of the body, the theory also predicts that left handed individuals are more likely to engage in criminal behavior than right handed ones.
The evolutionary neuroandrogenic theory (ENA theory) takes from both the evolutionary and neurological theories, focusing on the hormone testosterone
. It asserts that males have evolved so that testosterone will make them more likely to display competing behavior and victimize others than females. More competitive males will be seen by females as more able to provide for the family, and thus more likely to be chosen as mates and so more able to pass their genes to the next generation. Testosterone is a key component of the process, as it tends to shift brain functions from the left to the right hemisphere.
Jerome H. Barkow (Editor), Leda Cosmides (Editor), John Tooby (Editor)
Criminology
Criminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behavior in both the individual and in society...
and sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. While many sociologists and criminologists focus on the role of environmental
Social environment
The social environment of an individual, also called social context or milieu, is the culture that s/he was educated or lives in, and the people and institutions with whom the person interacts....
effects as primarily responsible for causing crime, the influence of biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
on crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
is also often studied. Biosocial theories may argue, for example, that humans predisposed by their genes
Gênes
Gênes is the name of a département of the First French Empire in present Italy, named after the city of Genoa. It was formed in 1805, when Napoleon Bonaparte occupied the Republic of Genoa. Its capital was Genoa, and it was divided in the arrondissements of Genoa, Bobbio, Novi Ligure, Tortona and...
to taking risk
Risk
Risk is the potential that a chosen action or activity will lead to a loss . The notion implies that a choice having an influence on the outcome exists . Potential losses themselves may also be called "risks"...
s may also be predisposed to criminal behavior.
History
Historically, the role of biology was seen as much more important, and early, 19th-century crimonological theories were heavily influenced by biological notions; for example Cesare LombrosoCesare Lombroso
Cesare Lombroso, born Ezechia Marco Lombroso was an Italian criminologist and founder of the Italian School of Positivist Criminology. Lombroso rejected the established Classical School, which held that crime was a characteristic trait of human nature...
argued that criminals are unevolved
Human evolution
Human evolution refers to the evolutionary history of the genus Homo, including the emergence of Homo sapiens as a distinct species and as a unique category of hominids and mammals...
, "barbaric" humans who can be identified by shared, "primitive", physical characteristics. With the passage of time and the advent of the 20th century, the nature vs nurture argument came to be dominated by the nurture faction, and theories related to the importance of biology on criminal behavior were seen as obsolete. In the second half of the twentieth century, however, such theories began to be revisited. While no longer doubting the significant impact of environmental factors, arguments were brought forward once more focusing on the possible importance of certain biological factors, such as specific genes
Gênes
Gênes is the name of a département of the First French Empire in present Italy, named after the city of Genoa. It was formed in 1805, when Napoleon Bonaparte occupied the Republic of Genoa. Its capital was Genoa, and it was divided in the arrondissements of Genoa, Bobbio, Novi Ligure, Tortona and...
.
Theories
Two traditions in biosocial criminology focus on analyzing evolutionary forces related to criminal behavior. They link criminal behavior with specific biological processes such as hormoneHormone
A hormone is a chemical released by a cell or a gland in one part of the body that sends out messages that affect cells in other parts of the organism. Only a small amount of hormone is required to alter cell metabolism. In essence, it is a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one...
secretions or brain wave patterns
Electroencephalography
Electroencephalography is the recording of electrical activity along the scalp. EEG measures voltage fluctuations resulting from ionic current flows within the neurons of the brain...
.
Linda Mealey, a representative of the "evolutionary forces" school, suggested that some human males - psychopaths - display alternative reproductive strategies; which can be described as engaging in various lawless acts throughout their life, particularly in their youth, that would usually, if known, lessen their chances of finding a reproductive partner. However, by the use of deception (creating false images of themselves towards their mates and society), and success in assaulting rivals and accumulating property and status, they manage to reproduce successfully.
Lee Ellis, a representative of the "neurologically specific theories" school, proposed the neocortex
Neocortex
The neocortex , also called the neopallium and isocortex , is a part of the brain of mammals. It is the outer layer of the cerebral hemispheres, and made up of six layers, labelled I to VI...
hemispheric functioning theory, which argues that people with an underdeveloped left hemisphere of the brain (linked with more linguistic skills and social behaviors) are more likely to engage in crime. As the hemispheres control opposite sides of the body, the theory also predicts that left handed individuals are more likely to engage in criminal behavior than right handed ones.
The evolutionary neuroandrogenic theory (ENA theory) takes from both the evolutionary and neurological theories, focusing on the hormone testosterone
Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...
. It asserts that males have evolved so that testosterone will make them more likely to display competing behavior and victimize others than females. More competitive males will be seen by females as more able to provide for the family, and thus more likely to be chosen as mates and so more able to pass their genes to the next generation. Testosterone is a key component of the process, as it tends to shift brain functions from the left to the right hemisphere.
See also
- anthropological criminologyAnthropological criminologyAnthropological criminology is a field of offender profiling, based on perceived links between the nature of a crime and the personality or physical appearance of the offender...
- biocultural anthropologyBiocultural anthropologyBiocultural anthropology is the scientific exploration of the relationships between human biology and culture. Physical anthropologists throughout the first half of the 20th century viewed this relationship from a racial perspective; that is, from the assumption that typological human biological...
- biosocial theoryBiosocial theoryBiosocial Theory is a theory in behavioral and social science that suggests the attribution of disorders of personality and conditions of mind to the reaction of biologically determined personality traits to environmental stimuli.-Biosocial theory in DBT:...
- sociology of crime
- sociobiologySociobiologySociobiology is a field of scientific study which is based on the assumption that social behavior has resulted from evolution and attempts to explain and examine social behavior within that context. Often considered a branch of biology and sociology, it also draws from ethology, anthropology,...
Further reading
- Anthony Walsh, Kevin M. Beaver, Biosocial criminology: new directions in theory and research, Taylor & Francis, 2008, ISBN 0415989442
- Anthony Walsh, Lee Ellis, Biosocial criminology: challenging environmentalism's supremacy, Nova Science Publishers, 2003, ISBN 1590337743
- The Adapted Mind: Evolutionary Psychology and the Generation of Culture [Paperback]
Jerome H. Barkow (Editor), Leda Cosmides (Editor), John Tooby (Editor)