Introduction to Criminology CRJ 270 Instructor: Jorge Pierrott

Introduction to CriminologyCRJ 270

Instructor: Jorge Pierrott

Criminology Today, 7th EditionFrank Schmalleger

Copyright © 2015 by Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved

Criminology TodayCriminology TodayAN INTEGRATIVE INTRODUCTIONAN INTEGRATIVE INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER

SEVENTH EDITION

Biosocial and Other Contemporary Perspectives

5

Chapter ObjectivesChapter Objectives

After reading this chapter, students should be able to answer the following questions:•What was the purpose of the Human Genome Project (HGP), and what is its significance for modern biological theories of crime?•What role do genetics and heritability play in contemporary explanations for crime?•How does brain dysfunction relate to criminality?•How do body chemistry theories – including those involving diet, blood sugar levels, environmental contaminants, and hormones – explain crime?•What are biosocial theories, and what role does the gender ratio problem play in contemporary criminology?•What are the policy implications of modern biological theories of crime?

The Human Genome ProjectThe Human Genome Project• Testing of Connecticut school shooter Adam

Lanza’s DNA to determine if he possessed any abnormalities.

• The human genome refers to a complete copy of the entire set of human gene instructions.1.Genes are made of DNA and carry coded

instructions for making everything the body needs.

2.Chromosomes are bundles of genes.

continued on next slide



The Human Genome ProjectThe Human Genome Project

• International research project mapping the human genome. Determine complete chemical sequence of

the human DNA

• HGP sequenced entire genomic sequence of a reference human genome

• Current focus of genomics Finding variants from reference sequence



The Human Genome ProjectThe Human Genome Project

• Knowledge developed by HGP may have major implications for individuals and society.

• Genetic knowledge can have significant implications for criminal justice What can we discover from the HGP

research? What is it expected to accomplish?

• Support the development of public policy options related to crime prevention and offender treatment.



Genetics and HeritabilityGenetics and Heritability

• Dutch research found male descendants of a “criminal family” had high proportion of violent crime arrests.

• Researchers H. Hilger Ropers and Han Brunner suggest that because males have only one X chromosome, they are more vulnerable to any defective gene, while women (with two X chromosomes) have a sort of backup system.



• Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA): Enzyme that breaks down

neurotransmitters serotonin and noradrenaline.

Neurotransmitters are the chemicals that transmit the flow of electrical impulses. • Men with mutated genes do not produce

enough of this enzyme. Excess amounts of MAOA linked to

aggression.• Resulting in uncontrolled urges and

ultimately, criminal behavior




University of Texas Health Science Center (S.A)•Pleasure-seeking gene (Allele or DRD2 A1) may play a role in deviant behavior, addictions, violence.

• The gene is normally involved in controlling dopamine flow

What does it do?• Diminishes dopamine function. • May lead to people engaging in dopamine-like

experiences, such as drinking or using drugs. Or in some cases to violence and/or murder.


Researchers – Capsi and Moffitt•Heritability linked to callous-unemotional behavior.

Can childhood maltreatment lead to a risk factor in adulthood?

•Genes and environment work together to produce significant antisocial behavior.

What was discovered?• In some cases, genetic pre-dispositions and

their interaction with the surrounding social and physical environments combine to produce delinquency.

Future Directions in the Study of Future Directions in the Study of Genes and CrimeGenes and Crime

• Explanatory power of heritability limited – may apply only to environments existing at the time of a given study

• If population or environment changes, heritability may change also

• Genes appear to be both the cause and consequence of our actions – they enable rather than determine human action.

The Dysfunctional BrainThe Dysfunctional Brain

• Position emission tomography (PET) scans found lower glucose levels in prefrontal cortex of murderers

• Prefrontal cortex dysfunction may predispose someone to crime rather than being a direct cause of crime

• Frontal brain hypothesis. A gene defect that leads to a communications

breakdown in the brain predisposes people to schizophrenia. continued on next slide



Figure 5-1 The Human Brain Showing the Prefrontal Cortex and the AmygdalaSource: Schmalleger, Frank J., Criminology. Printed and Electronically reproduced by permission of Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

The Dysfunctional BrainThe Dysfunctional Brain• Allergic reactions to foods have been linked

to violence and homicide. Foods such as milk, citrus fruit, chocolate, corn,

wheat and eggs may lead to swelling of the brain and stem.

• Physical injuries, emotional trauma, disease, longer term exposure to stress can lead to changes in the brain

• Link between stressors in the social environment and brain structure




The Dysfunctional BrainThe Dysfunctional Brain

• Neuroplasticity Brain can alter its structure or function

in response to experience or injury

Body Chemistry and CriminalityBody Chemistry and Criminality

• Body chemistry is influenced by factors such as eating habits, vitamin deficiencies, environmental contaminants, and the endocrine system

• You really ARE what you eat!



Ingested Substances and NutritionIngested Substances and Nutrition

• Early research linked excess sugar consumption to crime but the current evidence on the sugar/behavior link is unclear.

• Dan White – “Twinkie Defense” He murdered San Francisco Mayor George

Moscone and city Councilman Harvey Milk.

• This was contradicted in 1994 by the New England Journal of Medicine.




Ingested Substances and NutritionIngested Substances and Nutrition

• Some food additives (MSG, dyes, artificial flavorings) may be linked to violence

• Coffee and sugar may trigger antisocial behavior

• Vitamins, other nutrients may have behavioral impact.

• Higher intake of omega 3 fatty acids lead to a reduction of hostility.



Environmental PollutionEnvironmental Pollution

• Several studies have found a link between industrial and environmental pollution and violent behavior

• Correlation between juvenile crime and exposure to lead and manganese

• Prenatal substance exposure may lead to higher rates of conduct disorders, delinquency, psychiatric problems



Hormones and CriminalityHormones and Criminality

• Testosterone Relationship between high blood levels

of testosterone and increased male aggressiveness

Effect may be moderated by social environment

Small changes in female testosterone levels also linked to personality changes



• Androgens – male hormones High blood levels linked to aggression in

boys but not girls. A study revealed that boys with a higher

level of androgens in their blood exhibited the most persistent aggression.

• Fluctuations in female hormones may also be linked to crime. PMS defense – Christine English was

exonerated in a British court with this defense.





• Serotonin – behavior-regulating chemical Elevated blood levels/lower brain levels

linked to violence in men Imbalance between levels of serotonin

and dopamine highly associated with psychopathic traits





• Other hormones implicated in delinquency and poor impulse control include cortisol and T3 (thyroid hormone)

Climate, Weather, and Crime Climate, Weather, and Crime • Temperature is the only weather variable

consistently related to crime. • Researchers Ellen Cohn and James Rotton have

found temperature to be related to crimes such as assault, property offenses, domestic violence, and disorderly conduct.

• Relationship moderated by temporal factors. (Temp, time of day, day of week)

Uncomfortably hot and cold temperatures keep people apart.

• Research findings consistent with routine activities theory




Climate, Weather, and Crime Climate, Weather, and Crime

• Possible link between barometric pressure and violent crime

• Historical correlation between high temperatures, extreme rainfall patterns, and violence



Figure 5-2 Assault as a Function of TemperatureSource: E . G. Cohn and J. Rotton, “Assault as a Function of Time and Temperature: A Moderator-Variable Time-Series Analysis,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 72 (1997), pp. 1322–1334. Data used with permission.

Biosocial CriminologyBiosocial Criminology• Crime and Human Nature (1985)

Comprehensive theory of crime that included constitutional factors

Constitutional factors which contribute to crime. They include:• Gender• Age• Body type• Intelligence and• Personality




Biosocial CriminologyBiosocial Criminology

• Biosocial criminology – Anthony Walsh Biological factors do not operate in an

environmental vacuum, environmental factors do not operate in a biological vacuum.

Interaction of biology and the social and environmental conditions.



Figure 5-3 Selected Biological Factors Recognized by Biosocial Theory

Gender Differences in CriminalityGender Differences in Criminality• Gender ratio problem

need for an explanation of the fact that men are more involved in crime than women

• Early explanations focused on culture and the social environment – lack contemporary validation.

• Females make up 51% of the population in the U.S., but are arrested for less than 20% of all violent crimes and almost 38% of property crimes.




Gender Differences in CriminalityGender Differences in Criminality

• Biosocial criminologists say that if we admit that there is something about gender itself that is responsible for the observed differences, the problem is resolved. Does culture play a role in criminality? Culture has changed, has the proportion of crime

committed by women risen?



Evolutionary TheoryEvolutionary Theory

• Evolutionary perspective suggests that behavioral traits are manifestations of multiple genes working independently and synergistically in response to the environment.




Evolutionary TheoryEvolutionary Theory

• Evolutionary neuroandrogenic theory Propensity for crime commission

evolved as part of the male reproductive strategy

A particular neurochemistry, characteristic of males, increases the probability of crime among males relative to females



Policy Implications of Biological Policy Implications of Biological TheoriesTheories

• Steven Pinker claims social scientists unjustly ignore the biological basis of human behavior and replace it with three myths: The blank slate The Noble Savage The Ghost in the Machine




Policy Implications of Biological Policy Implications of Biological TheoriesTheories

• No genes for criminal behavior but genes may affect brain functioning and influence chances of learning socially unacceptable behavior patterns



Critique of Biological and Biosocial Critique of Biological and Biosocial TheoriesTheories

• Fail to predict criminality accurately• Methodological problems

Studies in the area have often been based on small, non-representative samples.

• Findings difficult to generalize• Do not explain regional, temporal

variations in crime rates




Critique of Biological and Biosocial Critique of Biological and Biosocial TheoriesTheories

• Cannot explain why some crimes are more likely to occur in certain parts of the country, certain types of communities, among members of specific subcultures rather than in others

• Some biosocial criminologists have been accused of racial and class bias

Introduction to Criminology CRJ 270 Instructor: Jorge Pierrott

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