A Literature Review

A Literature Review

Eimear Eves ' ' B00344400
Module ' ' Research Methods PUP 313
Tutor ' ' Trevor Currans

‘Is there a creditable link between criminality and biology, does it predispose peoples inclination towards criminality?’

Introduction

The main objective of this literature review is to identify different approaches and research on the idea that biology and criminal behaviour are linked in some way. I will use three separate literature articles from philosophers in this field surrounding the subject of biological criminology and assess their credibility in today’s society. Bio criminology does not have a general explanation for crime, but draws upon human genetics and neurobiology to account and explain the reasons in the growing social problem of violent and anti ' ' social conduct that we have been faced with throughout history and that of which is still very prominent in today’s culture of crime. In order to grasp the idea of bio criminology and weather it has any substance I will focus on past and present ideas ranging from the early works of Ceasares Lombroso’s notion that phenotypic traits such as skull size, shape and length of arms belong to that of criminals to works of Lee Ellis, a theory explaining biological correlates of criminality. Ellis introduces the evolutionary nueroandrogenic theory (ENA). My third literature article is that of theoretical criminology and the biology of culpability by Nikolas Rose, which is an overview of the bio criminology works and research to date. My aim is to review these three academic pieces in order to gain a more insightful knowledge into the world of biological criminology resulting in a wider understanding of the long history and controversial debate of biology and crime and their relation if any to one another.

Criminal Man - Cesare Lombroso (1835 ' ' 1909)
Crime and biology began with the work of Ceasare Lombroso in the eighteenth century and early nineteenth century. Lombroso was an internationally famous physician and criminologist. He was a scientist looking for a rational explanation of the phenomena of crime. He believed that with understanding of the workings of it would bring about the ability to change, improve or remove behaviour. Much influenced by Darwinian theory, Lombroso sought to apply this to crime, with an aim of trying to determine what made man criminal. He began theorising about a possible relationship between particular physical features and the likelihood of engaging in crime. He started with physiognomy ' ' the study of facial features and phrenology ' ' the study of the shape of the skull. He carried out many experiments and his conclusions summed up were as follows. ‘Criminals were tall men, with thick crisp hair, thin beards, dark skin, pointed skulls, oblique eyes, small craniums, overdeveloped jaws and receding foreheads.’
While reading Lombroso’s ‘Criminal Man’ for the purpose of my research I was shocked at the bizarre conclusions that Lombroso came to. While he has left a lasting impression on the world of criminology, I personally found his work very outdated and primitive. The idea that ‘criminals bear a strong resemblance to Australian aborigines and Mongols’ is something of a sweeping statement with no supporting evidence and Lombroso tends to make a lot of these throughout ‘Criminal Man.’ Lombroso’s work however, for the purpose of my research question is relevant as he was one of the first to suggest that there could possibly be a link between biology and criminality, through his concept of the ‘Born criminal.’ Obviously his work today had largely been discredited and since Lombroso’s methods of research and experimental ways were not rigorous by today’s standards, they gave rise to subsequent scientific scorn for his methodology. However, even though today we would consider Lombroso’s ‘Criminal Man’ to be of little relevance to biology and crime, he did come up with some very modern ideas and views that are now being re examined. The idea of criminality being heriderity and criminals being born with brain dysfunction. Maybe not exactly on the mark, but Lombroso’s was thinking along the same lines. Criminal Man is an excellent example of a man with an idea who lacked any of the amenities that would have greatly improved his theories and findings that we posses in the world today such as scientific experiments etc.

‘The biology of culpability’

Theoretical criminology 2000; 4; 5

The biology of culpability

Nikolas Rose

In this academic article on the biology of culpability Rose sets out to examine and assess the impact of the new biological criminology. ‘We are seeing the emergence of new conceptions of the individual ‘Genetically at risk’ of offending,’ Rose states that this is not a new eugenics, but a control strategy that aims to identify, treat and control individuals predisposed to impulsive or aggressive conduct. Unlike the earlier works of Lombroso, Rose is aiming to uncover weather biological criminology has any standing in the world today and weather it can be used as a control in controlling crime in itself. Rose explores all avenues from molecular genetics; neurochemistry to evidence from family histories and twin studies and by direct indicators of abnormality from EEG scans to the future of DNA screening. While doing this Rose is seemingly taking every idea ever considered into consideration before giving any indicator on his personal view, therefore giving every idea a chance. He gives examples of famous cases relating to the bio criminology debate from the ‘XYY’ cases in the late 1960s where it was claimed that males with an extra Y chromosome showed ‘ immaturity, defective development or inadequate control of aggressive instincts and emotional responses.’ To the ‘Pre ' ' menstrual’ case in the 1980s ' ' a successful defence of PMS, a biomedical condition. This reduced Ms English sentence from murder to manslaughter for killing her husband. He then goes on to mention control strategies. ‘Control strategies did not die with the Nazis’ states Rose. In Sweden from 1935 to 1975 there where a total of 62,000 people where prevented from reproducing by a nationally organized system of sterilization. Rose tends to be more occupied with associating bio criminology as a means to a control strategy rather than the idea that it may be a determining factor in a criminal mind. . It is only in the conclusion where Roses displays any notion of an opinion. Here he states that Eugenics was part of a politics race aimed at the purification of the national population. ‘Biological criminology here, is but one element in the more general rise of public health strategies of crime control, focusing on the identification of, and preventive intervention upon, aggressive, risky or monstrous anti-citizens.’

‘A theory explaining biological correlates of criminality’
European journal of criminology 2005; 2; 287
Lee Ellis
In this interesting journal of criminology Lee Ellis of Minot state university, USA, attempts to identify weather any biological factors correlate with criminality. The overall notion surrounds the evolutionary neurondrogenic theory (ENA). This includes notions of evolutionary issues, testosterone, mesomorphy, maternal smoking during pregency, hypoglycaemia, epilepsy, resting heart and pulse rates, skin conductivity, cortisol, serotonin and brain waves. These are all said to contribute to the likelihood of a person becoming delinquent or criminal at some stage in their life. This journal of criminology gives a very clear and concise take on the world of biological criminology, including early notions from that of Cesare Lombroso which have been drastically updated and extended to include recent notions such as the idea that hormones and brain conductivity also can contribute. Unlike Lombroso and Rose, Ellis provides recent, clear and easy to understand statistics to back up and support each notion giving the article a lot more creditability. Ellis’ accurate portrayal of the ENA notion is very reader friendly as he introduces the theory and then continues by subheading and explaining all the notions within the theory followed by a concise conclusion. Unlike social environmental theories, the evolutionary nueroandrogenic theory can account for statistical associations between biological variables and criminal behaviour. Overall I feel that Ellis has summed up in a very coherent, manner, all the possible notions for linking biology and crime whilst always supporting his theories through the use of case studies and statistics. He turns what can be to some people a very confusing and hard to grasp subject into an easy to understand and concise article.

Conclusion

Each article I have reviewed for the purpose of my research question had provided me with very different insights into the world of biological criminology however each with faults and areas for improvement. For example the works of Cesare Lombroso, while he provided a starting ground for bio criminology and in its day would have been greatly celebrated, his work nowadays is considered very naive in its approach due to the knowledge we have gained from the nineteenth century. In my opinion anyone researching bio criminology, certainly have a look at Cesare Lombroso’s work however he fails to support any notions with creditable evidence, therefore it is not very useful or reliable. My second article, that of Nikolas Rose in some ways is very detailed, maybe some would say too detailed. Rose seems to be more pre occupied with the idea of bio criminology being used as a crime control strategy rather than actual accounts of biological criminology. While it is a useful and factual based article, I feel for the purpose of my research question it lacked any real substance and seemed to talk around the subject rather than about it. My third article by Lee Ellis in my opinion was the most insightful, straight forward and to the point article. Unlike the other two articles, I really enjoyed reading this. Ellis introduces his notion clearly and concisely while always supporting with evidence whether it be through statistics or case studies. Ellis never seemed to talk around the subject or waste time discussing irrelevant ideas. In my opinion further research is needed on the very much controversial topic of biological criminology, accurate studies need to be conducted from birth in order to determine if biology really does determine whether we are inclined to become involved in criminality.

Bibliography

Lombroso, Cesare. (1968) Crime. Patterson Smith.

Lombroso. Ferero. Gina. (1972) Criminal man according to the classification of Cesare Lombroso. Patterson Smith 1972.

Darwin, C. (1859) On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. London: John Murray. Havard University Press 1975

Eysenck, H. J. (1916) Crime And Personality. London. Routledge and Kegan Paul 1977

Jeffery. C. R. ed. (1978) Biology and Crime. Sage. Sage Publications 1979

Wilson, JQ. Herrnstien, RJ. (1996) Crime and human nature ' ' The definitive study of the causes of crime. Simon and Schuster, A Touchstone book.

Anderson.G.S. (2006) Biological influences on criminal behaviour. Simon Fraser university publications. CRC Press, Taylor and Francis group.

Journals.
Rose, N. (2000) The biology of culpability, Criminology, 4; 5, 5 ' ' 34.

Ellis, L. (2005) A theory explaining biological correlates of criminality, Criminology.

Websites.
Crime Times (2008) Biology and crime. Available at http://www.crimetimes.org/.
(Date accessed 20th February 2009)

Sage publications (2009) Biology and crime. Available at http://www.uk.sagepub.com/home.nav. (Date accessed 17th February 2009)

Bibliography: Lombroso, Cesare. (1968) Crime. Patterson Smith. Lombroso. Ferero. Gina. (1972) Criminal man according to the classification of Cesare Lombroso. Patterson Smith 1972. Darwin, C. (1859) On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. London: John Murray. Havard University Press 1975 Eysenck, H Jeffery. C. R. ed. (1978) Biology and Crime. Sage. Sage Publications 1979 Wilson, JQ Anderson.G.S. (2006) Biological influences on criminal behaviour. Simon Fraser university publications. CRC Press, Taylor and Francis group. Rose, N. (2000) The biology of culpability, Criminology, 4; 5, 5 ' ' 34. Ellis, L. (2005) A theory explaining biological correlates of criminality, Criminology. Crime Times (2008) Biology and crime. Available at http://www.crimetimes.org/. (Date accessed 20th February 2009) Sage publications (2009) Biology and crime