Midterm Writing assignment Biological Influences on Criminality Classical theory assumes that criminal and non criminal are alike both think similarly NO fundamental difference between the two The birth of science and Positivism challenged this notion Forces beyond ones control led to criminality Inconsistence on finding characteristics unique to criminality Emphasis on objective measurement science Precursors of Biological Criminology Physiognomy face Phrenology skull bumpology Phineas Gage Birth of Biological Criminology 1859 Darwin s Origin of Species outlined evolutionary theory Cesare Lombroso Italian prison physician The born criminal Atavism biological throwback Measured numerous physical attributes like sloping forehead shoulders ear placement skull size arm leg jaw length Problem determinism Criticism of the Theory those incarcerated criminality Charles Goring s The English Convict Used the newly invented correlation coefficient On several dimensions students at Cambridge scored higher on criminogenic factors than did Problem biological criminology failed to account for a variety of social factors that influence Nevertheless further development Somatotyping ecto meso endomorph Everyone ranked 1 7 on these Mesomorph physical characteristics heavy chest predominance of muscle motor organs large wrist hands athletic build Corresponding temperament assertive and aggressive Genealogical Studies Early Genetic The Jukes 1 000 descendants 280 paupers 60 thieves 7 murders 140 criminalsm Classical Criminlogy Basics explaining human behavior Intelligence and rationality are fundamental human characteristics and form the basis for We understand ourselves and act to promote our own best interests Crime is a product of free choice weighing benefits against costs Rational response is to increase costs and decrease benefits Concerned with question of deterrence design and test system punishment that will result in minimal amounts of crime The Enlightment Age of Reason Thomas Hobbes 1588 1679 Developed the concept of social contract John Locke 1632 1704 Jean Jacques Rousseau 1712 1788 Ceasre Beccaria 1738 94 Published the influential Essay on Crimes and punishments in 1764 Purpose of punishment should be deterrence and not retribution For punishment to be effective severe in proportion to harm caused certain and swift To reduce crime the pain of the crime commission must outweigh the pleasure to be derived Punishment be based on the degree of harm rather than intent Opposed death penalty Proposed only for treason Laws be published Jeremy Bentham 1748 1832 Published Principles of moral legislation in 1789 Utilitarianism People are hedonistic from criminal activity Recommended the creation of centralized police force 5 Key Principles of classical school Rationality Human beings have free will Hedonism Pleasure and pain are the major determinants of choice Punishment Criminal punishment is a deterrent to unlawful behavior Due Process Presumed innocent until proven guilty Utilitarianism The greatest happiness shared by greatest 1 Specific Deterrence Involves sanctioning an individual to deter that particular individual General Deterrence Involves sanctioning an individual to deter other potential offenders by Two Type of Deterrence 2 making her an example Neoclassical Retains the philosophical assumptions of classical school The roles of circumstances and context Classical school focused on actus reus guily act and ignored mens rea guilty mind Rational Choice Theory Criminals make conscious rational and partially informed choice Predicts that individuals choose to commit crime when the benefits outweigh the costs of disobeying the law Crime will decrease when opportunities are limited benefits are reduced and cost are increased Does Punishment deter crime High recidivism rates suggest not Certainty matters somewhat Severity has no weak effect Swiftness celerity often not measured Capital Punishment Little evidence suggests it is an effective deterrent Little difference in murder rate b w DP and abolitionist states South had the highest murder rate and its accounts for over 80 of executions Racial disparities in imposition Since 1930 nearly 90 of those executed for rape were AA The odds of receiving a death sentence are nearly four times higher if the defendant is black than if he she is white Eugenics The Promise of good genes Galton social Darwinism i e survival of the fittest Popular social scientific platform pre WWII Attempt to select populations with valued traits Achieved through altering reproductive habits accordingly Eugenic Tragic Consequences Remedies for poor genetic the rancid fruit of determinism Immigration restrictions Sterilization Buck vs Bell 3 generations of imbeciles is enough o Death The Final Solution Hitler and Mein Kampf Rebirth of Biological Criminology II Twin Studies Monozygotic identical twins 100 of genes shared Dizygotic fraternal twins siblings 50 of genes shared General findings there is a correspondence between genes and criminality Rebirth of Biological Criminology II Adoption studies For those adopted shortly after birth this controls for the nature issue General findings correlation with criminality from weak to strong Adoptive father criminal Biological father criminal Both adoptive and biological father criminal Contemporary Biological Criminology II and III Physical makeup gene based theories Testosterone PMS Biochemical s neurotransmitters Nervous system skin conductivity resistance to anxiety reaction Biosocial Criminology Attempts to locate social triggers that activate genes Complications during pregnancy child birth Drug use Head injuries Lead exposure o o o o What matters most is how embedded you are with society isolation to be avoided Intellectual Backdrop Thinking inspired by two major events French Revolution Industrial Revolution Elemental concepts Mechanical solidarity uniformity Organic solidarity diversity division of labor Gemeinschaft community Gessellschaft society Fundamental Assumptions As seen in Suicide Context is supremely important This shapes personal decisions Functionalism Defined Crime is normal it serves a valued social purpose No society has existed crime free Imagine a society of saints pg119 The Purpose of Functionalism Crime is to be regulated and controlled not eliminated Crime and deviance are continually redefined Defining deviance up more restrictive law Defining deviance down more permissive law Constant balance
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