Biochemical

• Theory summary: biochemical factors may trigger criminal behaviour by affecting brain chemistry
• Strengths: Sexual hormones, blood sugar and substances can affect mood
• Strength: Testosterone levels and male criminality peak at the same age
• Strength: Crack cocaine is linked to violent crime
• Strength: Biochemical factors are recognised by the courts
• Strength: If a mother kills her baby by a result of postnatal depression then she has partial defence
• Weaknesses: Biochemical processes may predispose individuals to offend but environment may trigger it
• Weakness: Scarmelia and brown found that testosterone levels do not greatly affect agression levels in most men
• Weakness: Schalling found high testosterone can lead to verbal abuse but not physical