SOCI 2205 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Insomnia, Offender Profiling, David Reimer
27 Jun 2018
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Biological Perspective
Biological Theories of Crime
Many criminologists have resisted biological explanation of crime due to number
of factors
oSome of the early biological research, such as that of Lombroso, has been
largely discredited
oConcepts such as that of the born criminal appear ludicrous in light of our
knowledge about the role of the environment in crime and of the CJS in
labeling people as criminals
oResistance also stems from a concern that these theories seems to leave
little for society to do about crime, except to remove criminals from society
or to intervene aggressively into human reproduction (eugenics, forced
sterilization)
oWhile surgical castration or sex offenders has been practiced in some US
states to most scholars, intervening so radically is both repugnant and lets
society off the hook and the purposed social roots of crime, such as
poverty and racism, are ignored
What do we do with them in society, do we punish them or do we
let it go if its completely out of their control
There are new developments in the biological and genetic fields of crime that will
undoubtedly exert a significant influence on the way crime and human behaviour
are viewed in the future
One of the most noteworthy developments has been the Human Genome Project
oDr. Michael Smith
The aim of this project is to identify the 25,000 or so many genes in human DNA
and to store this info to electronic databases to allow for further research
oSee what the genes contribute to illness, disease, aging etc.
oThe ability to create “designer babies”
oWe have the ability to clone people, but it is illegal
Biological explanations are justified on the basis that sociological theories cannot
explain why people sharing the same social environment including siblings, can
behave very differently
oTwin studies
Today, biological and social influences on behaviour are viewed as acting in
concert, in a complex casual change
But they are not necessarily of equal importance in all cases
In some cases, biological factors may be so dominant that there is a lesser role
for social influences, and vice versa
Neurophysiological Conditions and Crime
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as a recent meeting of the American Neurological Association, two neuroscience
researchers reported on the case of a man with no history of pedophilia who
began molesting children after developing an egg-sized brain tumor
according to the neuroscientists, friends of the man told investigators that the 40
year old married teacher had never previously exhibited abnormal impulses but
suddenly starting visiting prostitutes, making sexual advances towards children,
and spending time on child porn sites
although he entered a treatment program for pedophiles, he propositioned
women at the facility and was expelled
at the same time, he began having headaches and went to a hospital ER where
he told doctors he was having strong sexual urges and was afraid he would rape
his landlady
an MRI showed he had a large tumor in the right frontal cortex of his brain
the tumor was successfully removed and the mans abnormal urges disappeared
later, however, the reoccurred, and another scan showed the tumor had returned
once again, it was removed, and the man’s behaviour returned to normal
the neuroscientists reported the tumor was located in the part of the brain
associated with social judgements and self-control, and they speculated it was
the cause of his sexual urges
“we’re dealing with the neurology of morality”
Biological Theories
Many biological theories have been advanced to explain criminality:
oAbnormalities of the brain
oGenetic predispositions
oVitamin deficiencies
oExcess of hormones (esp. testosterone)
oHyopo/hyper-glycaemia (high/low blood sugar)
oFetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
oBrain chemical imbalance
Brain Damage due to Trauma
Injury to the brain can occur as a result of sever blows to the head arising from
accidents or assaults
Observations of patients who have experienced brain injuries indicate that these
patients are often aggressive and display difficulty controlling their tempers
Some studies have found that a significant percentage of violent men and young
offenders have experienced head traumas serious enough to cause brain injury
Some psychiatrists argue that most homicide offenders suffer from some form of
brain damage, whether sustained before or during birth or at some point during
life
Many experience seizures and mental blackouts, suggesting neurological
damage
One of the most notorious cases of the impact of brain injuries involved Montreal-
born professional wrestler, Chris Benoit
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On June 25 2007, Benoit, his wife, and seven-year-old son were found dead in
their Georgia home in what turned out to be a murder-suicide
While it was widely suspected that this incident was the case of rage brought
about by the abuse of steroids by the wrestler, toxicology results found no
artificial steroids in his system
Instead, an analysis of his brain revealed that his brain was so severely damaged
that of an 85-year-old Alzheimer’s patients
EEG Abnormalities
Numerous studies that have examined the brain activity of violent prisoners
reveal significant differences between the EEGs of criminals and those of non-
criminals
Other findings relate significantly slow brain wave activity to young offenders and
adult murderers
One study that examined the criminal records and EEG’s of 265 children in a
birth cohort in Denmark found that certain types of brain wave activity enabled
investigators to predict whether convicted thieves would steal again
Fetal Alcohol Disorder (FAS)
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) refer
to conditions caused by exposure to alcohol in the womb
FAS always involves brain damage, impaired growth, and head and face
anomalies
FASD refers to the range of birth defects caused by prenatal alcohol damage
FASD children may exhibit poor coordination, hyperactivity, learning disabilities,
developmental disabilities, low IQ, and poor reasoning and judgement skills
They are also at risk for a range of psychiatric problems, criminal behavior,
unemployment, low levels of education and victimization
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
AD/HD, which affects 3-5% of children (most often boys), is a relatively common
form of minimal brain dysfunction
Symptoms include:
oLack of attention
oPoor school performance
oPoor concentration
oActing without thinking
oLack of organizational skills
oConstant fidgeting
oBullying
oLack of response to discipline
Research links AD/HD to the onset and sustenance of a delinquent career; the
disorder is 9x more likely to be found in delinquent children
Biochemical Factors
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find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
What do we do with them in society, do we punish them or do we let it go if its completely out of their control. There are new developments in the biological and genetic fields of crime that will undoubtedly exert a significant influence on the way crime and human behaviour are viewed in the future. One of the most noteworthy developments has been the human genome project: dr. michael smith. Biological explanations are justified on the basis that sociological theories cannot explain why people sharing the same social environment including siblings, can behave very differently: twin studies. Today, biological and social influences on behaviour are viewed as acting in concert, in a complex casual change. But they are not necessarily of equal importance in all cases. In some cases, biological factors may be so dominant that there is a lesser role for social influences, and vice versa.
