Trait Theory
Associated
with CesareLombroso
Criminal tendencies were inherentandidentifiablethrough physicalfeatures
Theviewthatcriminality is a product ofabnormalbiologicaland or psychologicaltraits
The Development
of TraitTheory
environmentand factors
Sociologists view biology learning as
mutually independent
It that biologicalandgeneticconditionsaffectthelearningandperception
stresses
of social behaviours
Crime producing
interactions involve bothpersonaltraitsandenvironmentaltraits
People and mentaltraitsat birth or soon afterthat
may develop physical
affecttheirsocial functioning overthe life courseandinfluencetheirbehaviour
Low birth babies Suffer educationalachievement abuse
weight poor Deliquency Drug
Gained prominence as result research chronic recidivism
a
of addressing
BiologicalTrait
Theories
Focuses on conditions
biological
Biochemical Conditions andCrime
Biochemical conditions
genetically predetermined
andthoseacquiredthroughdietand
environment influence antisocial behaviour
Exposure to harmful chemicalsandpoor diet in utero atbirthandbeyondmaythen
affect people throughouttheirlifecourse
Smoke Increase in
psychopathology offspring
Secondhand
cigarettesmoke during pregnancy predictslater
conductdisorder
Drinking Peoplewhostart
drinkingbytheage of14arefivetimes morelikely to
become alcoholics
thanyeaglewhoholdoff untilthe 21
drinking age of
kidswhoabusesubstances asteenswilllaterseekout like minded
peers who
reinforcethese destructive behaviours
leadingtogreaterexposureand
attachment
tolike mindedges
Chemicalsand Minerals Leadtodepression mania cognitiveproblems memorylossand
abnormalsexual Correlates
activity of crime
Excessive intake be
oflead mercury ironand maganesemay
linked to neurological dysfunctions ADHD
adultcriminality
Leading Poisoning
ofmale
predictors deliquency persistent
Improper Diet
Diet aggression
associationclaim thatineverysegmentofsocietythere a violent
agressive andamoral peoplewhose improperfood vitamin andmineral intake
be responsible for their antisocial behaviour
may
Deficiency ofcertainchemicalsandminerals inthediethasbeenshownto contributeto
abnormal mentaland physical conditions
seemto provokehostile impulsiveandotherwise
Excessive amounts
ofharmful
substances
antisocial behaviours
Sugar Intake
Highintakeofsugar will leadto highagressionlevel
Children who engaged in theones
aged 10 of
excessive consumption
confectionary were
invited adulthood
likely to be
most
forviolence in
whodrank 35cans
of softdrinkperweekweresignificantlymorelikely to
Adolescents
violence
engage in
Hormonal Influences
Males tendtobe biologically and females
naturallymoreagressivethat
Hormones
cause areas ofthebrainto lesssensitiveto environmental stimuli
become
Hormones alsoaffectthebrainstructureitself They thelefthemisphereofthe
influence
neocortex controlsthe others
of
sympatheticfeelings
Promotes violenceandotherseriouscrimes toseekgreaterlevelsofenvironmental
by causingpeople
stimulationandto toleratemorepunishmentand emotional
by increasingimpulsivity volatility
andantisocial norms
Malesex hormones androgens produce aggressive
behaviour
Humanand animalsubjectshasfoundthatprenatal
exposureto of
levels
unnaturally high
testosterone alters behaviour
permanently
Hormone levelsalsohelpexplainthe
aging
outprocess as it declinesduringthelifecycle
Premenstrual PMS Questionable
syndrome
Onset
ofthe cycletriggersexcessiveamountsofthefemalesexhormones which stimulate
menstrual
antisocial behaviour Dalton40
byKatharina
Popularised
aggressive yearsago
Diana Fishbein's research A significantnumberofincarceratedfemalescommittedtheircrime
duringthe premenstrual phaseandat leasta smallpercentage of
womenappearvulnerabletocyclicalhormonalchangesthatmakethem
more prone to anxietyand hostility
EnvironmentalContaminants
coppercadium andinorganicgasesthatarefoundin ecosystemcan
of
amounts
Dangerous
meriary
influence behaviour moderatelevel or severeillness ordeath highlevel
offooddyesandartificialidomsandflavours
influenceantisocial behaviour
Lighting ingesting
andCrime Studyof brain
Conditions
Neurophysiological
fetalor perinatalstageas a result
Neurological and physical abnormalities acquired in the of
birthdeliverytrauma or later in controlbehaviour
through braininjuries life
Computed tomography CT and Magnetic resonanceimage MRI
Evaluatebrainstructure allow researchers toinfercauses
of
abnormalfunition duetodifferentdisorders
Functional MRI fMRI Provides metabolic
imageswithin theanatomic structures
Eleitroencephalogram EEG Adevicethatrecords electrialimpulsesinthebrainorbrainactivity
Abnormal EEG readings Poorimpulseantral inadequatesocialadaptationhostility temper
tantrumsand destructiveness
Positron emission PET Brainelectrialactivitymapping BEAM andsuperconducting
tomography
quantum
interferencedevice SQUID
Possible
to accesswhichareasofthebrainarediretlylinkedtoantisocial behaviour
AttentionDeficit Disorder ADHD
Hyperactivity
A developmentallyinappropriate
lack
ofattention impulsivityandhyperactivity
Linksto turmoil theonsetand
possibilityof
increased
ofa deliquentcareer
maintanence
family
treatment Ritalin
Typical help iontrolemotionalandbehaviouraloutbursts
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder FASD
A group of conditions thatcan occurin a personwhosedrankalcoholduring
pregnancy
Many people with FASDstrugglewith impulsivity an inabilityto learnfromtheir mistakes
and drug or alcoholproblem
Overrepresentation of Indigenous women
Acquired Brain Injury ABI
Any damageto the brain thatoccursafterbirth notrelatedto a congenital or a
disease
degenerative
Non traumatic ABI Caused
bysomethingthathappens
insidethe
body
or a substance introduced
bodythatdamagebrain
into the tissues
Traumatis ABI Caused
bysomething
outsidethe
body
Evidence
of
diminished
caparitydue to braindamagetendstoreducemoral blameworthiness
andincrease therisk
forlater anddisorders
behavioural
problems
Malechildrenareat muchgreaterriskforacquiring a brain andnearly10 ofthosewith
injury
an ABI will beinvolved in a violent irime
Brain Chemistry
Neurotransmitter
are chemical compounds thatinfluence or aitivatebrainfunctions
Low serotonin levelsare associatedwithpoorimpulse controlandhyperativity
Low supplyofthe enzyme MAO A inbehaviourlinkedwithviolenceandpropertycrime
engage
Females
Antipsychotic drugs Haldol Stelazine Prolixin Risperdal can control levels of
neurotransmitter
Arousal Theory
Fora geneticand
brainfunction
differentlyinresponseto
of
environmentalreasons people's
variety
environmentalstimuli
Peopleseekto maintain a preferred level Anxiousandstressed
ofarousal toomuch
Toolittle Boredand
weary
Genetics and Crime
RichardSpeck A killerwith XYYchromosomalstructure
Eventually
PeoplewithXYY chromosomal structureare a killer proved
wrong
Parental Deviance
If criminaltendencies areinherited thenthechildrenofcriminalparentsshould bemorelikelyto
become
lawviolators thantheoffspringofconventionalparents
Parental
criminalityand
deviance influence behaviour
powerfully deliquet
Twin Behaviour
Twins wouldbequitesimilar in theirantisocialactivitiesastheyare the
usuallybroughtupin
same householdandexposed to thesamesocialconditions
Thecriminalactivitiesofmonozygotictwins MZtwins anda muchlowerassociationbetween
60
those
ofthe dizygotictwins D2twins of MZtwinsshared
criminalbehaviourpatterns
30
only ofD2twinsweresimilarly related
Adoption Studies
Biological father's
criminality strongly predictedthe
child'scriminalbehaviour
Evolutionary Views ofcrime
Humantraitsthat andaggressionhavebeenadvancedbythelongprocessofhumanevolution
violence
produce
Thecompetitionforscarceresources has influencedandshapedthehumanspecies
Evolution
of GenderandCrime
To ensure thesurvivalofgenepool it isbeneficialforamaleofanyspeciestomatewithas
suitablewomen aspossible because each ionbear
hisoffspring
many
Crimeratedifferences betweenthegendersis because theinherentdifferences inbehaviourpatterns
of
thathave developed overtime
Cheater
Theory A subpopulationof menhasevolvedwithgenesthatinclinethemtoward
extremely lowparental
involvement
Theyaresexuallyaggressiveanduse
cunningto
achievesexual females
conquest
ofasmany as possible
Deceptive reproductive tactics
Cheater
type
males beespeciallyattractivetoyoungerlessintelligentwomenwhobegin
may
having
children at a
very early age
Govt sponsoredwelfare removes theneedforpotentialmatestohavetheresources requiredof
stableprovidersand caretakers
family
Evaluation
ofthe Biological Branch
ofTrait Theory
Problematic
Dividepeopleintocriminalsandnoncriminalsonthebasis their
of geneticandphysial
self reportsthat
indiatealmost has
engagedin
makeup everyone some
ignoring
typeof illegalactivity
Research
samples are
smalland nonrepresentative
Challenges determinism vs Freewill
Inadequate
research
designs andweakmethodologies
Psychological Trait
Theories
Charles Goring Discovered a relationshipbetweencrimeand defectiveintelligence which
involved traits such as
insanityand
defective sorialinstinct
GabrielTarde People learnfromone anotherthrough imitation
Psychodynamic Perspective
Originatedby SigmundFreud
Human three partstraiture
personality has a
i Id Primitive part
ofpeople's mentalmakeup presentatbirththat represents unconsious
biologicaldrives forfood sexandother life sustaining necessities It seeks
gratificationwithoutconcern fortherightsof
other
ii Ego Developsearly inlifewhena childbeginstolearntheirwishescannotbeinstantly
gratified It helps id andkeeppeople's actionswithintheboundariesof
controlthe
socialconvention
iii Superego Incorporationwithin thepersonalityofthemoralstandardsandvaluesofparents
community andsignificantothers
ofthecriminaloffenderdepictsanaggressive
Psychodynamicmodel
frustrated dominated events
person by
thatoccurredearly in childhood
Peoplewith weak
egosmaybeeasily ledintocrimebyantisocialpeersanddrugabuse
Latent Originated
from Airchoin
Deliquency August
A psychological dispositiontocommit antisocialacts becauseof an
id dominated personalitythatrenders anindividualincapableofcontrolling
impulsive pleasure drives
seeking
Behavioural Perspective
All human behaviour is learntthrough a processofsocialreinforcement
Premise
Peoplealtertheirbehaviouraccordingtothereactions it receivesfromother
IvanPavlovand JohnWatson Basic physiologicalandpsychologicalstateswerelearntreactionsto
thepairing
ofstimuli
Classic Introduced Watson
Conditioning
by
B F Skinner Operant conditioning Organismsengagein theenvironmentandlearnfromtheirbehaviour
ClassicalConditioning Operant Conditioning SocialLearning
Theory
Albert Bandura bornwiththeability
Peopleare not to at violently buttheyobserveandlearntobe
throughtheirlifeexperiences Theseviolent behaviourpatterns persist
aggressive
in social relationships
Their interpretations andsituationsinfluencethe
ofbehaviour
outcome
way
from experiences
they learn
Childrenandadolescentswhowatchvidenceon andinmovies more
TV are likelytoviolent
themselves
Behaviour
Modelling Modelling
and reinforcement
aretwo ofthemostimportant
process in learningaggressivebehaviour
ifthe
Behaviour is more imitated modelreleives some
likely
form
ofpositivereinforcementfor it
Factorsthatcontributeto violent or behaviour
aggressive
i Aneventthatheightensarousal
ii
Aggressive
skills Learnt
aggressiveresponsespicked upfrom
observation
iii Expectedoutcomes The beliefthataggressionwillsomehowshouldberewarded
in Consistency
ofbehaviourwithvalues
Cognitive Perspective
Focus
on mentalprocesses howpeopleperceiveand
mentallyrepresentthe
worldaround
them andsolve problems
Originatedfrom Wilhelm Wundt Edward Titchener WilliamJames
Information Focuses
on howpeopleprocess store encode retredueand
processingTheory
manipulate information to makedecisionsandsolveproblems
Sequence
ofcognitivethoughtprocess
Encodeinfoso it canbeinterpreted
Search anddecideonthemostappropriateaction
for a proper response
Acton Theiraction
The PersonalityandCrimePerspective
The reasonablystablepatterns behaviour
thoughtsand thatcandistinguish
of
emotions
Personality
one personfromanother
Antisocial
Personality
Sociopathic Psychopathic
A pervasive patternofdisregardforandviolationof therightsofothersthatbegins
in childhood or earlyadolescenceandcontinues intoadulthood
Sociopath A productof a destructive upbringingmarkedbyneglectandabuse
Psychopath A productof an inheritedgeneticdefect or conditionpresentatbirthorsoonafter
Former inmates whosufferfrom
psychopathyare
threetimesmore toreaffendwithin
likely
a yearof
releasethanotherprisoners andfourtimes likelytoreaffend violently
Evidencethat andviolencesuggeststhattherootcauseof
personalitytraitspredictcrime
crimecanbefoundintheforcesthatinfluence humandevelopment
early
The IntelligenceandCrime Perspective
Nature determined thatancestrydetermines I
Theory Intelligence is largely genetically
andthatlowintelligence as demonstrated linkedto
bylowIQ is
criminal behaviour
William andAugusta Bronner
Healy
Deliquents were 5 to 10times morelikelytobe than normalboys
mentallydeficient
NurtureTheory Intelligence is notinheritedandlow IQparents donotnecessarilyproduce
low IQ children Intelligenceis partly biologicalandprimarily sociological
Low IQ scores May reflect
criminal's cultural
background nottheirmentalability
IQ crime link is low
Strength
of
Raceand class biased
Mental DisorderandCrime
Mostserious disorder Schizophrenia hearing
nonexistentvoices
seeing and
hallucinations
exhibiting inappropriate responses
Have
illogicaland thoughtprocessesandlackinsight
incoherent
intotheir behaviour
Adolescentmales 75 can beclassifiedas mentaldisorderincluding schizophrenia
having
Abusivemothers Havemoodand disordersand a
personality history ofpsychiatricdiagnoses
likelyto
Peoplewithmentaldisorderaremore withdrawandharm themselves or bevictimised
thantoact toward other
aggressively
Greatmajority
ofcriminalsarenotmentallydisorderedandthattherelationship is
modestat best
Mental DisorderandViolence
Riskof violent outcomes forthosehaving a schizophrenicdisorderwas 4to 5 timesgreater
than thegeneralpopulation andbetween 14and 25timesgreaterforhomicide
Psychosis was associatedwith a
reliably
49 68 increased likelihood
ofviolence
Evaluation
of Psychological Trait Theory
Critics are contradictory
Findings
Environmental conditions
aremoreimportantindeterminingwho regardless
Sceptics
of
psychological dispositionwill
commit a crime
Supporters
Early
interventionandtreatment is needed so it preventsthedevelopment of
criminality
Social
PolicyImplications
Primary Prevention Program Seekto treatpersonalproblems before manifest
they
themselves crime
as
Secondary
Prevention Program Provide treatment like
psychologicalcounselling to
youths andadults aftertheyhave violatedthelaw
gym an [Link] um gag y gp g
Biologicaloriented therapy Usemoodalteringchemicals psychosurgery
MBD Minimal Brain Dysfunction