biological explanations for offending behaviour

• Atavistic form


  Refers to the features which belong to individuals with genetic throwbacks
• Lombroso's theory of offending behavior

  • Noticed that criminals share physical characteristics like bloodshot eyes, low brows, hawk like nose
  • Claimed that criminals are 'born, not made'
  • Concluded that people with the features were wild and untameable which would inevitably at some point turn them to crime
• Physical characteristics of criminals

  • Murder has bloodshot eyes with a cold stare and a large nose
  • Thief has an expressive face and small wandering eyes
  • Sex offenders have thick lips
  • Female criminals are short often have dark hair
  • Many will be tattooed and will speak with a slang
• Goring's research


  • Disagreed that criminality is innate, using a sample of criminals and non-criminals
• Strengths of Lombroso's theory


  • One of the first medical professionals to realise that criminals could be studied scientifically
  • Facial features presenting aggression can lead others in society to assume that they are actually aggressive forcing them to confront which could lead to becoming criminally violent
• Weaknesses of Lombroso's theory

  • Theory had no real methodology and was biased; sampling bias, confirmation bias and had ethical concerns
  • Criminals encountered by Lombroso was poor and uneducated with many health issues, lacks validity
• Biological deterministic


  Suggests that criminals should not be blamed as it is genetically inherited
• Lombroso's theory is reductionist, trying to explain a complex phenomenon by using only one explanation
• Genetic explanations


  • Idea that there may be a specific gene which predisposes individuals to turn to crime
  • Mutations within specific genes or combos of genes may be a contributory factor
  • Chromosomal variations been linked to increase in testosterone which increased aggression
  • If criminality is based on genes, then there will be 100% concordance rate between MZ twins
  • Candidate genes such as the MAOA gene may predispose an individual criminal behaviour
• Neural explanations


  • Assumes that specific neurotransmitters and brain structure may increase criminal behaviour
  • If levels of seretonin are unstable than this may lead to increased impulsivity and mood swings
  • Small amyglada may be linked to a lack of empathy in offenders → explains lack of guilt and remorse
  • Impulsive murders do not use the prefrontal cortex to perform simple cognitive tasks ? prefrontal corext is though to regulate impulsive behaviours
• Strengths of biological explanations

  • Good supporting evidence for genetic explanations of offending behavior → twin study used a sample of 35,000 twins and found concordance higher in MZ twins
  • Uses of brain imaging techniques such as PET scans provides objective clinical evidence giving it good reliability
• Weaknesses of biological explanations

  • No single specific gene, or combo of genes have been identified
  • Brain imaging techniques can be unreliable if they are not done properly - sensitive to temp and noise
• Biological explanations of offending behavior

  Relates to the nature side of the nature-nurture debate
• Genetic explanations


  • Idea that there may be a specific gene which predisposes individuals to turn to crime
  • Mutations within specific genes or combos of genes may be a contributory factor
  • Chromosomal variations been linked to increase in testosterone which increased aggression
  • If criminality is based on genes, then there will be 100% concordance rate between MZ twins
  • Candidate genes such as the MAOA gene may predispose an individual criminal behaviour
• Neural explanations


  • Assumes that specific neurotransmitters and brain structure may increase criminal behaviour
  • If levels of seretonin are unstable than this may lead to increased impulsivity and mood swings
  • Small amyglada may be linked to a lack of empathy in offenders → explains lack of guilt and remorse
  • Impulsive murders do not use the prefrontal cortex to perform simple cognitive tasks - prefrontal corcortexext is though to regulate impulsive behavioursthought
• Strengths of biological explanations

  • Good supporting evidence for genetic explanations of offending behavior → twin study used a sample of 35,000 twins and found concordance higher in MZ twins
  • Uses of brain imaging techniques such as PET scans provides objective clinical evidence giving it good reliability
• Weaknesses of biological explanations

  • No single specific gene, or combo of genes have been identified
  • Brain imaging techniques can be unreliable if they are not done properly - sensitive to temp and noise
• Biological explanations of offending behavior

  Links to the nature side of the nature-nurture debate