biochemical

• substance abuse?

  • 80% of family violence crimes involve the misuse of alcohol
  • over half of all homicides are believed to be drug related
  • 55% of domestic abuse perpetrators were drinking alcohol prior to the assault
• sex hormones?

  2019:

  95% of people in prison are male and 5% are female

  85% of people arrested are males and 15% are female

  • high levels of testosterone are linked to aggression in men including crimes like rape and murder
  • hormone changes in females during the menstrual cycle have been linked to criminality, such as infanticide (murder of a child)
• strengths?

  -research links biochemistry to criminality. Legal systems recognise some cries are caused by chemical imbalances. For example, if a new mother commits a crime (infanticide) whilst suffering from pot-natal depression, it can be used a a partial defence.

  -there is research supporting that shows alcohol affects our bin chemistry and increases the likelihood of criminality. For example, Flanzer found 80% of family cases of violence (in USA) involved the abuse of alcohol.
• weaknesses?


  -not all crimes have a biochemical explanation, even if they could potentially play a role. For example, some mothers may commit infanticide because of isolation, stress or jealousy rather than hormone imbalances. This challenges the role of bio chemicals in criminal behaviours.