How Do Biological Factors Affect Criminal Behavior?
Introduction
The Positivist School of Criminology rejected the Classical School 's idea that all crime resulted from a choice that could potentially be made. Though they did not disagree with the Classical School that most crime could be explained through "human nature," they argued that the most serious crimes were committed by individuals who were "primitive" or "atavistic"--that is, who failed to evolve to a fully human and civilized state. Crime therefore resulted not from what criminals had in common with others in society, but from their distinctive physical or mental defects. The positivists understood themselves as scientists and were concerned with scientifically identifying the causes of criminal behavior in individual offenders.
Biological Factors in Crime
Not many want to believe there is any such thing as a "bad seed;" that heredity can make criminal behavior unavoidable and inevitable for some individuals. Of course, bio-psychologists do not believe that genetic or physiological components are the sole causal agents in behavior. …show more content…
It was with respect to intelligence that criminals are most differentiated from the general community. He found a high association between criminality and defective intelligence (Driver, Pioneers in Criminology, 1972). In addition, he found strong, positive associations between criminality and insanity, epilepsy, and venereal disease. However, upon further examination of the data, he concluded that these "constitutional" detriments are mainly accidental association in relation to conviction (Goring, 1913). Ultimately, he concluded that "the physical and mental constitution of both criminal and law-abiding persons, of the same age, stature, class, and intelligence, are identical" (Goring,
The Positivist School of Criminology rejected the Classical School 's idea that all crime resulted from a choice that could potentially be made. Though they did not disagree with the Classical School that most crime could be explained through "human nature," they argued that the most serious crimes were committed by individuals who were "primitive" or "atavistic"--that is, who failed to evolve to a fully human and civilized state. Crime therefore resulted not from what criminals had in common with others in society, but from their distinctive physical or mental defects. The positivists understood themselves as scientists and were concerned with scientifically identifying the causes of criminal behavior in individual offenders.
Biological Factors in Crime
Not many want to believe there is any such thing as a "bad seed;" that heredity can make criminal behavior unavoidable and inevitable for some individuals. Of course, bio-psychologists do not believe that genetic or physiological components are the sole causal agents in behavior. …show more content…
It was with respect to intelligence that criminals are most differentiated from the general community. He found a high association between criminality and defective intelligence (Driver, Pioneers in Criminology, 1972). In addition, he found strong, positive associations between criminality and insanity, epilepsy, and venereal disease. However, upon further examination of the data, he concluded that these "constitutional" detriments are mainly accidental association in relation to conviction (Goring, 1913). Ultimately, he concluded that "the physical and mental constitution of both criminal and law-abiding persons, of the same age, stature, class, and intelligence, are identical" (Goring,