B ) Biological theories have focused on body type, genetic

factors, studies of twins to differentiate between genetic and

social factors, and studies of chromosome variations. This
literature suggests that criminality is genetically transmitted
through the family. Psychological theories also focus on the
individual.
 •Lombroso argued that criminals could
be identified through general
characteristics they shared with one
another, which he designated as
composing a criminal type.
1.
LOMBROSIAN
THEORY •A thief, for example, could be identified
by his expressive face, manual dexterity,
and small, wandering eyes.
 •Sheldon's somatotype theory is
associated with the biological
criminological theories of crime
causation, which states that individuals
are predisposed to crime based on their

2. genetics.

William Sheldon Theory

•Attempted to explain and predict

crime based on a person's body
type.
 •Biological explanations of crime assume
that some people are 'born criminals',
who are physiologically distinct from
non-criminals.
3.
Biological Theories
Delinquency
•Biological theories of crimes state
that whether or not people commit
crimes depends on their biological
nature.
 •Hooton considered eugenics and not race the most
salient social issue of his time. According this view,
criminals belong to a “class of hereditary
degenerates” who ruin society and must be brought
under control through “sterilization, euthanasia, and
cutbacks in welfare.”
C) Psychological theories of crime say that criminal
4. behavior is a result of individual differences in thinking
processes. There are many different psychological theories,
Hootons Theory
but they all believe that it is the person's thoughts and
•During the 1930s he surveyed the American
feelings that dictate their actions.
criminal population to attempt to determine
whether criminal behaviour might be linked
to physical or racial factors.
 •The psychodynamic theory centers
on a person's early childhood
experience and how it influences the
likelihood for committing crime.

1.
Psychodynamic Theory
•The incidents that transpired in their
early childhood always tend to affect
them well into adulthood.
 •This is a form of conditioning,
where behavior is learned and
reinforced by rewards or punishment.

2.
Behavioral Theory

•For example, when children see parents use

aggression as a form of discipline, they
begin to view aggression as a style of
conflict resolution.
 •Cognitive-behavioral theory combines the
principles of social and developmental
psychology and those of experimental-clinical
psychology. The theory, as applied to crime and
delinquency, posits that social behavior is learned.

3.
Cognitive Theory

•For example, when children see parents use

aggression as a form of discipline, they
begin to view aggression as a style of
conflict resolution.
 •A hybrid of the medical pathology model and personality
trait approach, the psychopathy concept proposes that a
significant portion of serious crime is committed by
psychopathic individuals.

4.
Psychopathic Personality
•Psychopathic personality is related to
violent convictions across the life-course.
Psychopathic personality is related to a wide
range of different types of violence
convictions.
 •Hooton considered eugenics and not race the most
salient social issue of his time. According this view,
criminals belong to a “class of hereditary
degenerates” who ruin society and must be brought
under control through “sterilization, euthanasia, and
cutbacks in welfare.”

4. END OF PRESENTATION
Hootons Theory
•During the 1930s he surveyed the American
criminal population to attempt to determine
whether criminal behaviour might be linked
to physical or racial factors.