Biological Trait Theory - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Biological Trait Theory

It’s in their bloodSlide2

Introduction

The belief that some people may have physical or mental traits that make them more prone to committing crime.

Biological makeup

Psychological functioningHelps to explain why, when faced with the same life situations, one person commits crime, and one obeys the law.Slide3

Nature vs. Nurture

Trait theory recognizes that a particular characteristic

d

oes not, in itself, produce criminality.It involves personal traits:Defective intelligence, impulsive personality, abnormal brain chemistry, etc.And it involves environmental factors:

Family life, educational attainment, socio-economic status, neighborhood conditions.Slide4

Biochemical Conditions

Both genetically predetermined and those acquired through diet and environment may influence antisocial behavior.

Minimal levels of minerals and chemicals are needed for normal brain function and growth.

Deficiencies can lead to depression, mania, cognitive problems, memory loss and abnormal behavior.Slide5

Vitamin Deficiencies

Low levels of Vitamin B and C

Linked to anti-social behavior

Abnormal levels of Vitamin B3 and B6Linked to schizophrenia and children with learning disabilities.Slide6

Hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar can cause the following symptoms:

Irritability, anxiety, depression, headaches, confusion.

Studies have connected assaults and sexual offences to hypoglycemic reactions.Inmates have been found to have higher than normal levels of hypoglycemia.Slide7

Hormonal Influences

Abnormal levels of

androgens

(male sex hormones) can produce the following symptoms:Aggressive behavior, sensation seeking, impulsivity, dominance and reduced verbal skills Helps explain high violence rates amongst teenage males who are more prone to hormonal changes.

Testosterone

(most abundant androgen) also linked to criminality

High levels can permanently alter behavior.

Females have less testosterone, may be biologically protected from deviant behavior.Also helps explain the “aging-out” process.Slide8

Hormonal Influences

Premenstrual syndrome has also been linked to delinquency.

Onset of menstrual cycle triggers excessive amounts of female androgens.

Studies suggest women are more likely to commit suicide, be aggressive and act anti-socially just before or during menstruation.Large percentage of incarcerated females committed their crime during pre-menstrual phase.Link between PMS and deviance still debated.Slide9

Environmental Contaminants

Can cause death in high doses, and emotional and behavioral disorders at moderate levels.

Copper, cadmium, mercury, chlorine, nitrogen dioxide all linked to behavior disorders.

Food dyes and artificial colors and flavors – hostile, impulsive, and antisocial behavior.Artificial light such as fluorescent tubes and TVs my cause aggressive behavior.Slide10

Myth of the “Twinkie Defense”

1978 – Dan White murders San Francisco Mayor George

Mosconi

and another politician named Harvey Milk.White confessed, but his lawyers asserted a defense of diminished capacity.

Claimed he was debilitated by mental illness and wasn’t fully responsible.

Convicted of voluntary manslaughter and only gets 8 years.Slide11

Myth of the “Twinkie Defense”

Primary defense asserted White suffered from severe depression.

Small portion focused on how he stopped eating healthily, and began eating junk food such as Twinkies,

HoHos, and Ding Dongs.A San Fran journalist claimed White got off on the “Twinkie insanity defense”Led to a national outcry

“Diminished capacity” was removed from the books.Slide12

Neuropsychological Conditions

Neurological and physical abnormalities, acquired as early as the fetal or perinatal stage, or through birth trauma, may control one’s behavior throughout their life.Slide13

Abnormal Brain Impulses

An “electroencephalograph” (EEG)

is used to record electrical impulses in the brain5% of population has abnormal EEG readings50-60% of adolescents with behavior disorder display abnormal readings.These children demonstrated behaviors including:

poor

impulse

control

, inadequate social

adaptation

, hostility,

temper

tantrums,

and

destructivenessSlide14

Low IQ

1977 study found that delinquents tended to have lower IQs than non-delinquents.

Also more likely to commit another felony within three years of being released from prison.

Counter argument:Low IQ leads to poor school performance, which weakens ties to positive institutions and to society, in turn leading to criminality.High IQ children are more likely to succeed in school and have more job opportunities.

IQ tests can also be culturally biased. Slide15

Mental Illness

People who suffer from illnesses such as paranoid schizophrenia or bipolar disorder have a difficult time in society.

Schizophrenia is accompanied by delusions and hallucinations that entice people to commit crimes.Slide16

Personality Disorder

Personality disorder – rigid patterns of behavior and belief that differ markedly from society’s expectations.

Caused by family influences, environment, diet, lack of attachment to institutions, delinquent friends, brain chemistry, genetics, drugs and alcohol abuse.

Antisocial personality disorder – by nature, someone who demonstrates a “pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others.”

Narcissistic personality disorder

– someone who lacks empathy, is arrogant, and has an exaggerated sense of entitlement.Slide17

Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder

– extreme black-and-white thinking, mood swings, difficulty functioning within society norms.

Histrionic personality disorder – excessive emotionality and attention seeking.Paranoid personality disorder – someone who is paranoid, distrustful of others, hypersensitive, and quick to react angrily.Slide18

Genetics

A person may be genetically predisposed to certain activities or emotions such as anxiety, aggressiveness, or learning impairments, but a “crime gene” has not been proven.

Criminal kids may come from criminal parents, for a variety of reasons:

Kids learn criminal behavior from their parents.Criminal parents are poor parents

Criminal parents are less likely to emphasize education

Criminal parents my be more likely to allow

k

ids to hang out with other delinquents, which reinforces criminal values.Slide19

Genetics

A 1984 study looked at adopted children.

% of adopted

sons who engage in crime.

Biological

parents are criminals

Adoptive parents are criminals

13.5%

✖

✖

14.7%

✖

✔

20.0%

✔

✖

24.0%

✔

✔Slide20

Evolutionary Factors

Biologically, men and women have different needs and desires, which have an influence on crime.

To ensure the survival of the species, it is beneficial for a male to mate with as many females as possible

The most aggressive males, will naturally mate the most often, producing the most offspring.These aggressive males have then had the greatest impact on the gene pool and could account for the disproportionate amount of male aggression and violence.Slide21

Evolutionary Factors

Spousal abuse may also be linked to evolution

Abuse is a function of aggressive men, seeking to control and possess mates.

Men who feel threatened over losing a mate to a rival are most likely to engage in sexual violence.Women in common-law marriages, especially those who are much younger than their husbands, are at greater risk for abuse.Slide22

The “Cheater Theory”

Suggests there is a subpopulation of men who are not inclined to be parents, yet are sexually aggressive, and use deceit for sexual conquest.

Under normal circumstances, women would not choose them.

These men mimic the behavior of stable men, to gain sexual access.Deceitful reproductive strategies linked to deceitful lifestyle.

These men are attractive to younger, less intelligent women.

Short courtships produce children with low IQ scores, aggressive personalities, and poor socialization.

The make up an ever expanding supply of cheaters.Slide23

Limits of Trait Theory

Some argue it is racist

If biological explanations are used for street crimes, then the poor and minority group members, who commit the majority of these crimes, a biologically different, flawed, or inferior.

Many of the claims trait theorists make, need more empirical data.Trait theorists argue that people are not born as criminals or non-criminals, but some people carry a greater potential.