BIOLOGICAL THEORIES...

BIOLOGICAL THEORIES...

1. Genetics and Heritability (individuals who are genetically predisposed to certain kinds of behaviour may become aggressive through interaction with the physical and social environment) Although contemporary criminologists do not believe that there is one single and identifiable “criminal gene,” they do believe that individuals who are genetically predisposed to certain types of behavior may become aggressive or criminal through interaction with the surrounding. Sex-linked chromosomes have special explanatory power by virtue of the fact that the majority of violent offenders are male.

   • For instance, men have only one X chromosome, they are especially vulnerable to any defective gene, whereas women (with two X chromosomes) have a kind of backup system in which one defective gene may be compensated for by another correctly functioning gene carried in the second X chromosome.

2. Brain Dysfunction(frontal brain hypothesis) which is the physical changes in parts of the brain the influence criminality. BD also includes neuroplasticity which is described as the brain's ability to alter its structure and function in response to experience or injury. this is useful in explaining changes in behavior and personality

   • Neurocriminology, a perspective that examines the neurological links between the organism, social factors, and criminal behavior. Raine claimed that children as young as 3 years old could already shoe signs of future criminal behaviours. another example in the prefrontal cortex dysfunction, Raine carried ot a study of the 41 murderers who claimed not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI). 

3. Body Chemistry. these are perspectives that link poor nutrition and deficiencies in vitamins, to disruptive and violent behaviour. Hormonal levels in the blood are also believed to affect behaviour.

   •  criminologists identified neurotransmitters as hormonal influences on human behaviour and cognition

4. Hormones, Enzymes, and Criminality. These biological theories explain disruptive or violent and criminal behavior by identifying hormonal influences on human cognition and action. Testosterone, evolutionary perspective, evolutionary neuroandrogenic theory (ENA), serotonin, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), hormones (testosterone, cortisol, norepinephrine), neurotransmitters (dopamine), monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A)

   • A few authors have suggested that testosterone is the agent primarily responsible for male criminality and that its relative lack in women leads them to commit fewer crimes.  criminologists identified neurotransmitters as hormonalinfluences on human behaviour and cognition

5. Biosocial Criminology This perspective focuses on the interaction between biology and the physical and social environments as a route to understanding human behaviour, including criminality. Biosocial perspectives incorporate many concepts previously listed in this map, including genetics, the gender ratio problem, heritability, hormones, brain dysfunction, body chemistry, natural and sexual selection.

   • Neuroplasticity, genetic memory, and epigenetics are additional associated concepts. The most important contribution from this perspective, however, comes in recognizing the influence of biological factors as they are mediated through the physical and social environments in producing criminal behaviour. Biosocial criminologists use the simple formula GxE to represent that interaction.

6. Evolution and Violence. Evolutionary theory has most often been used to explain gender differences in both violent behavior and sexual activity.

   • Kevin et al.,(2010), discovered that thenumber of sexual partners that men have is associated with criminal involvement. The greaterthe number of partners a male has, the more violent and prone to criminal behavior.According to Ellis (2005) in his theory of evolutionary neuroandrogenic, he believed thatreproductive strategies have guided human evolution, with human males seeking to producemultiple offspring in order to ensure the survival of their genetic material, Neuroplasticity, genetic memory, and epigeneticsare additional associated concepts. The most important contribution from this perspective,however, comes in recognizing the influence of biological factors as they are mediatedthrough the physical and social environments in producing criminal behaviour. Biosocialcriminologists use the simple formula GxE to represent that interaction.

Imagens e arquivos do mapa

• The surprising connection between brain injuries and crime | Kim Gorgens (Incorporar)
• 1.7 Genes and criminal behaviour (Incorporar)
• Inside the Crime Lab: Forensic Chemisty Unit (Incorporar)
• CARTA:Violence in Human Evolution: Neuroendocrinology; Intergroup Violence; Humanity and Savagery (Incorporar)
• Biological and Environmental Theories of Crime Causation |css criminology lectures| Sociology/Police (Incorporar)
• Environmental Effects on Crime (Incorporar)