Biological Risk Factors for Involvement in Crime Mental health Mental health sits at the intersection of biological (such as genetics and neurology) and social factors (such as post-traumatic stress disorder, resulting from trauma or abuse). Biological Theories of Crime. Evidence suggests that mental health can have both direct and indirect links to criminality. The belief that one can determine a person’s character, moral disposition, or behavior by observing his or her physical characteristics is ancient. Ellis, Lee. Ellis, Lee. Crime and criminal behaviour are as old as human society itself. It was commonly believed that offenders behaved differently because they were physically different from non-offenders. juvenile crime, gang formation, specific offender types) but they share one common assumption: some (otherwise moral) people are driven to crime out of the frustration( and Although Wilson and Herrnstein suggest that various factors influ - ence criminal behavior, the most controversial aspect of their perspective was the biological factors, which include gender, low intelligence, impulsiveness, and body type. Journal of Research on Crime and Delinquency, 28, 227−251. Several psychological theories have been used to understand crime and delinquency. Crime has high and diverse costs. However, some traces still exist. Biological Theories and Criminal Behavior may affect a person’s early ability to discern right from wrong, however, once they are incorporated in … However, it wasn’t until the late 19th century that psychologists attempted to systematically explain the causes of criminal behaviour. Boston: Northeastern University Press. Physical Trait Theories. Strain Theories: Merton, Cohen, Cloward and Ohlin, Agnew Strain theories may focus on different aspects of criminal behavior (e.g. Perhaps even more tragic, however, isthe indirect damage to society. their theory, one researcher suggested the name operant-utilitarian theory of criminality. Biological Theories of Crime Historical Theories (1800s – 1970s) Physical features Heredity Gender Body types Genetics Chromosomal abnormalities Intelligence The early view was that nature exerted influences on human beings that overcame socialization (nurture). Italian School biological explanations have not resonated in criminal justice systems in America. Early theories of crime saw criminals as biologically different to non criminals. IV. (1991). Biological Theories Today. Monoamine oxidase and criminality: Identifying an apparent biological marker for antisocial behaviour. 65-84). In P. Cordella and Larry Seigel (Eds. The direct physical, material, mental, and emo-tional injury suffered by victims of crime is deplorable. ), Contemporary Criminological Theory (pp. (1990). This literature review categorizes these perspectives into five areas, provides a brief overview of each, and analyzes and synthesizes the relevant, elements within each area. Crime theories are also categorized based on their levels and scopes, and evaluated as five levels from large scale to individual factors; (i) societal macro level theories, (ii) community or locality level theories, (iii) group and socialization influence theories, (iv) crime events and routine activities, and (v) individual-level theories. 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