biological causes

• Biological


  One biological cause of crime in Scotland
• Brain function


  • People with aggressive tendencies (e.g. murderers and psychopaths) have poorer functioning pre-frontal cortexes (the area controlling functions)
  • Criminals have 11% less grey matter in this brain area
• Genetics


  • A predisposition to crime can be linked to genetic makeup
  • A 2014 study in Finland showed criminals were 13 times more likely to commit a violent crime due to genes
• Sex


  • Men are more likely to be convicted of crime, possibly due to the 'macho' stereotype and facing more negative peer pressure
  • Accurately, more than 95% of the prison population is male