CRM512 - CRIMINOLOGY

BIOLOGICAL THEORY
SYAKIR BIN CHE SARUJI
MSc in Economic Crime Management
B1901657
WHAT IS
BIOLOGICAL THEORY
OF CRIMINOLOGY?
 DEFINITION
• A Biological Theory of deviance
proposes that an individual deviates
from social norms largely because of
their biological makeup.

• The theory is from an Italian School of

Criminology, by a man named Cesare
Lombroso.
 THE BIOLOGICAL CRIME
THEORY
• They thought that the person’s hight
may have played a role in being a
criminal.

• They also believed that if a criminal was

caught, that they should be detained
for as long as possible.

• They also used different serious

punishments with large crime
offenders.
BIOLOGICAL TERMS
OF THE BIOLOGICAL CRIME THEORY

PENOLOGY
The processes devised and adopted for
the punishment and prevention of
crime.

ATAVISM
The reappearance of ancestral
characteristics in an organism after
several generations of absence.
IS CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR
GENETICALLY
INFLUENCED?
There are many theories that explain the causes of crime.
Genetics being one of them. Family studies focus on the
criminal history and background of families.

Families with criminal backgrounds, are said to be more likely

to produce children with criminal tendencies also, almost
as though crime is a gene carried through generations.
IS CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR
GENETICALLY
INFLUENCED?
Characteristics and traits of a person can be inherited through
genes and it is argued that criminal behaviour may be an
inheritable, polygenic trait much like eye colour, height and
skin tone etc.

The study of biological theories in criminology asks two main

questions; whether there is a genetic influence on crime and
if so, how does it operate? Three studies had been taken to
explain the biological factors of crime causation.
FAMILY STUDIES
Theorists such as Osborne and West
(1982) undertook the study of families.

Comparison of sons and fathers,

criminal fathers and non criminal fathers.
40% of sons also have criminal
convictions.

Father had no trace of a criminal

conviction, still 13% of sons did. Genes
do not completely determine criminality
but yet still may have an influence.
ADOPTION STUDIES
Hutchings and Mednick (1975) - If
adoptive or biological father did not
have a record of criminal behaviour,
their sons still had one about 10% of
the time.

It may not be crime which is inherited

but other genes which may lead to
criminal behaviour.
TWIN STUDIES
Research and studies of twins and the link
to criminality. These studies support that
an inheritable trait may increase the
risk of criminal behaviour.

Being aware of their physical similarities

may also mean they mimic each other
throughout life and so any criminal
behaviour may also be mimicked but the
behaviour isn’t solely influenced by
genetics.
CRIMINOLOGISTS
OF THE TIME
ENRICO FERRI
Enrico continued Lombroso’s
work in Penology.

RAFFAELO GAROFALO
Raffaelo gave a “natural”
definition of crime.
Raffaelo also made it clear that
criminals were inhuman or
unnatural.
BIOLOGICAL THEORY
TODAY
• The Biological Theory has changed over
the years.

• Few countries are involved with this

theory.

• Italy being one of them.

PROs AND CONs
OF THE BIOLOGICAL THEORY

PROs
•Some built men really are criminals.
•Prevent copycat crimes started from
ancestors.

CONs
•It isn’t always 100% right.
•Some people are innocent, but are
criminalized by the family’s past.
SUMMARY
Criminology is the study of crime and punishment.

The Biological Theory of Criminology says that criminals and non-criminals

are biologically different.

Three studies had been taken to explain the biological factors of crime
causation.

•Family Studies.
•Adoption Studies.
•Twin Studies.

Biological research does not provide causal evidence, and the biological
theory absolves people of responsibility.
THANK YOU