Theories of Crime

Biological predisposition to crime influenced by genetics, hormones, neurochemicals 

Lombroso (1836-1909)

• Homo-delinquents (physical and psychological features)

Evaluation

• Goring - 3000 convicts compared to 3000 non-criminals
• Reductionist
• Prejudice

NOS1 Gene - aggression in animals

• Generalised to humans (+/-)
• Variant of NOS1 links to human aggression
• Crime is relative to culture + context
  • e.g. killing in a war/killing in the street

Bowlby's Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis (MDH)

• lack warm, intimate, continuous relationship with mother figure
• link to criminality (behavioural problems in later life)

The 44 Thieves

• 86% of affectionless psychopaths separated from mothers, 4% of control group

Evaluation

• supports MDH and link between separation and psychopathy
  • correlation - one does not cause the other
• Retrospective
  • reliable? accuracy of memory is questionable?
• Did not receive same quality of care - suffer more?
• Not all studies found deprivation leads to maladjustment

Criminal behaviours are learnt through observation and imitation 

• role models are family, friends, media...
• direct/indirect reinforcement (seeing someone else be rewarded/being rewarded themself)

Evaluation

• Natural Born Killers inspired crime (Nathan Martinez watched film then murdered his step mother and 10 y/o sister)
• Lab experiments (Bandura's Bobo's) lack ecological validity
• Natural experiments mostly find same thing
  • Williams
    • physical & verbal aggression doubled after TV introduced (Canada)
  • Prof. Freedman
    • Japan has most violent imagery on TV, one of lowest murder rates
• Correlation doesnt infer cause and effect but suggests a link