BIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS IN CRIMINALITY (FROM HANDBOOK OF CRIMINOLOGY, 1974, BY DANIEL GLASER SEE NCJ-16486)

• NCJ Number: 49444
• Author(s): S A SHAH; L H ROTH
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 73 pages
• Corporate Author: Rand McNally and Co
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Bibliography
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THEORY AND RESEARCH ON DIRECT AND INDIRECT LINKS BETWEEN BIOLOGICAL VARIABLES AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR ARE REVIEWED, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PREVENTION ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THE PURPOSE OF THE DISCUSSION IS NOT TO PROVE THAT BIOLOGICAL INFLUENCES, AS OPPOSED TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES (NATURE VS. NURTURE), CAUSE CRIME, BUT RATHER TO POINT OUT THAT MORE ADEQUATE INFORMATION ABOUT BIOLOGICAL VARIABLES IS NECESSARY FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING DEVIANT BEHAVIOR. AMONG THE BIOLOGICAL VARIABLES DISCUSSED ARE DISORDERS OF THE LIMBIC PORTIONS OF THE BRAIN; THE CONTINUUM OF EPILEPSY-RELATED DISORDERS; ENDOCRINE-RELATED PROBLEMS; PERINATAL PATHOLOGY AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH SOCIOECONOMIC CLASS; MINIMAL BRAIN DYSFUNCTION; GENETIC FACTORS; SEX-CHROMOSOME DISORDERS; STUDIES OF PHYSIQUE, TEMPERAMENT, AND BEHAVIOR; AND CONSTITUTIONAL AND PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT SOCIAL GROUPS THAT ACCOUNT FOR HIGH RATES OF DELINQUENCY AND CRIME ARE ALSO MARKEDLY OVERREPRESENTED IN THE POPULATION OF 'REPRODUCTION CASUALTIES.' CERTAIN PRENATAL, PERINATAL, AND POSTNATAL FACTORS (COMPLICATIONS OF PREGNANCY, PREMATURITY, AND MALNUTRITION) ARE ASSOCIATED WITH NEUROLOGICAL AND RELATED DISORDERS IN CHILDREN, PROBLEMS EXACERBATED BY POSTNATAL SOCIAL EXPERIENCES THAT FURTHER STRESS THE AFFECTED YOUNGSTERS AND MAKE THEM MORE VULNERABLE TO DIFFICULTIES IN ADAPTING TO EXISTING SOCIETAL SITUATIONS. YOUNG MALES, ESPECIALLY NONWHITES, ARE MOST HEAVILY INVOLVED IN DELINQUENT AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. ALTHOUGH SOCIAL FACTORS ARE IMPORTANT IN EXPLAINING THIS FACT, THE ROLE OF ENDOCRINE HORMONES (TESTOSTERONE LEVELS) IN SEXUAL DIFFERENTIATION, AS WELL AS IN CONNECTION WITH THE BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ASSERTIVENESS AND AGGRESSION, IS ALSO NOTEWORTHY. THE TENDENCY OF CRIMINOLOGISTS TO IGNORE BIOGENIC EXPLANATIONS OF CRIME AND RELATED APPROACHES IS NOTED. BIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN PROGRAMS OF PRIMARY, SECONDARY, AND TERTIARY PREVENTION ARE DISCUSSED, AND EXAMPLES OF BIOLOGICALLY ORIENTED TREATMENT APPROACHES TO SEXUAL DISORDERS AND TO AGGRESSIVE, EPISODIC, AND RELATED BEHAVIOR DISORDERS ARE CITED. A 20-PAGE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)