NCJ Number
150430
Date Published
1991
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This chapter critically examines research that links criminality to heredity, problems with the autonomic nervous system, chromosomal abnormalities, hormonal imbalances, and IQ.
Abstract
Following a review of research that has focused on various biological roots of behavior, particularly antisocial behavior, the authors identify the common assumptions and applications of biological theory. Biological theory reduces criminal behavior to uncontrolled but predetermined responses by a human organism. Not only is this an inaccurate depiction of crime in general, but it also distorts the relationship of biology to human behavior. We are biological creatures, but this does not mean we are ruled by our biology or that biology and environment compete for control of our actions. Biological theory posits that certain individuals are predisposed to crime because of their biological condition. Society's response, according to biological theorists, should be to find these individuals and cure or isolate them to reduce crime. The potential for abuse under such a theory is that crime is removed from its social, legal, ethical, and political context and defined solely as a medical problem that requires medical expertise, not process protection. A danger unique to biological theories is their tendency to invoke the traditional prestige of science as objective, value neutral, and free of political motives. The history of biological intervention in the control of crime, however, is a history of political decisions. 2 tables