[pic]Jennifer Auvenshine Essays - Introd, Pic Language, Desmiphorini

[pic]Jennifer Auvenshine Essays - Introd, Pic Language, Desmiphorini [pic]Jennifer Auvenshine PBS300 - Introduction to Crime and Deviance Colorado State University - Global Campus Lisa A. Hoston November 5, 2017 Mod 4: Biological and Psychological Theories When it comes to criminology, many theories attempt to explain what makes a person deviant. Biological theorists point the finger at genes passed from parent to child and issues within the brain, while psychological theorists believe personality and the external factors that influence personality development are to blame. Personally, I believe that both biological and psychological factors play an essential role in how a person behaves, criminal or not. The Great Debate, Biological versus Psychological Biological theories to explain criminal behavior have been around for centuries, most of which have now been debunked. However, modern biological theories focus on a wide range of factors that are not only related to genetics, but also environmental influences such as diet, head injuries, complications that affect the nervous system, and exposure to toxins such as lead. Biological theorists do not claim that there is a specific gene responsible for criminal behavior, acknowledging in their studies that there is an interaction between biological factors and an individual's environment (Hagen, 2013). Several studies utilized twins and adopted children to prove that genetics have a direct effect on criminal behavior. While study findings are mixed in twin studies, in Dalgard and Kringlen's 1975 study, they found similar patterns concerning criminal behavior in monozygotic (identical) twins (Hagen, 2013). Adoption studies took on the classic Nature versus Nurture debate, aiming to find out of a child's behavior was more closely linked to the adoptive or biological parents. In 1972, Schlesinger found that criminality in adopted boys was higher when their biological fathers were criminals. Another study that took place in Copenhagen between 1972 and 1941 found that a father's criminality was also a good predictor of a child's behavior. Alternatively, in 1974, Crowe did not find any differences between adoptees and a control group, aside from a link to psychopathic personalities. Crowe did, however, admit that his study may be flawed due to problems with small samples (Hagen, 2013). Crowe's study is not unique in its issues. Most twin/adoption studies only involve a small number doe cases and face other issues such as unsystematic and uncontrolled samples, reliance on official records rather than blood serum group samplings, and the possibility of similar environmental treatment, such as twins growing up in identical conditions (Hagen, 2013). Other theories that show promising information have their problems as well. The XYY theory speculated that males born with an extra Y chromosome were predisposed to aggressive and violent behavior, and while one study suggested that a larger portion of incarcerated criminals possessed the extra Y chromosome, another found no difference. Furthermore, inmates who did possess an extra Y chromosome were found to be less violent than their incarcerated counterparts (Hagen, 2013). Sociobiology is another interesting perspective that "insists on the genetic basis for human behavioral differences" (Hagen, 2013, p. 138), stating that a person's reaction to any given situation is modified by biochemistry and cellular reactions in the brain. One study suggests that brain injury at birth contributes to criminality and another found that children with ADHD are at high risk for delinquency (Hagen, 2013). When considering that the brain regulates emotion and impulse control, while untreated ADHD causes impulsivity and ADHD medications can cause aggression, it is hard to argue with these findings. Although, they too are pulled from limited case studies, and the research is limited by small samples, is over-reliant on already incarcerated subjects, and often have poor sampling procedures (Hagen, 2013). Psychological Theories Psychology focuses on an individual's personality, behavior, and their mind, which leads many adherents to the psychological approach to criminality to focus more on the rehabilitation of criminals than the causes of their criminality (Hagen, 2013). Sigmund Freud viewed the person as being made of three parts: id, ego, and superego. The id is the instinctive, animal self, while the superego is the refined part that seeks to be accepted by society, and the ego is the referee between the conflicting id and superego. Some followers of Freud believe that the inability to control instincts is due to an inadequate ego and superego. Others proport that crime is a substitute response to the primary goals being blocked, while others say that crime is committed when an individual has an unconscious desire to be punished (Hagen, 2013). Psychometry, a field that is dedicated to measuring the psychological differences in criminals and non-criminals, has been unable to find conclusive evidence of specific personality traits