Biological Theories of Crime
The Aim of biological theories in the field of criminology is to give an attempt to explain behaviors that are contrary to the expectation of the society, which is done through examination of individual characteristics. These theories are categorized within a dimension known as positivism, also known as determinism (“The criminal brain: understanding biological theories of crime,” 2009). Positivism asserts behaviors, including those that violate the law, are determined mostly by factors that are beyond the control of human beings. Positivist theories differ with classical theory, which bases their argument that people choose their behaviors in a rational process in a logical decision making, and which critical theories, which critique lawmaking, social stratification, and the unequal distribution of power and wealth.
Biological theories asserted a linkage between certain natural conditions and an increased tendency to engage in criminal behavior. In 1890s significant interests, as well as controversy was generated by the biological theory of the Italian criminologists, Censure Lombrosso, whose investigations of the skulls and facial features led him to the hypothesis that severe or persistent criminality was associated with atavism or the reversion to a primitive stage of human development. In the mid-20th century, William Sheldon won considerable support for his theory that suggested that criminal behavior was more common among well-built, athletic people than among tall, thin people or the soft, rounded people. During the 1960s, a debate arose about the association between criminal tendencies and the biological composition of and individual. The main concern was that of males having a trisomy chromosomal composition (XYY), having an extra y chromosome that is characterized to be prone to criminality (Hahn et al., 2016).
Even though research concerning such an idea had been banned, they have continued and brought essential results. There is one that has shown a relationship between adoptees and twins in criminality and biology. Twins have more tendency to exhibit similar characteristics towards crime if they are identical than if they are fraternal.
This discovered fact about twin’s connection in criminality proved there is a genetic influence in criminal behaviors. In the case of the adopted children, there is a likelihood of them behaving like their biological parents (Hahn et al., 2016). The rate of criminality compared between the adopted children and twins, adopted children have a higher percentage of engagement in crime, considering that all parents were criminals.
Between the 1980 and ’90s, biochemical research attempted to identify specific factors that are associated with an increased rate of criminality and engaging in it. A good example is the neural transmitter imbalances effects in the brain e.g., hormonal imbalance, which appeared to have an association in criminality. These do not mean a person may engage in crime, but instead, their presence increases the chances of one engage in evil. These factors may be influenced, but environmental conditions; however, its cause is not identified.