chapter 2 notes

Case Study: Bob's Behavior

• Bob's Background

  • Recently released from prison after a five-year sentence.

  • Long history of fights, break and enters, and excessive drinking.

  • Psychological report indicates childhood abuse, impulsivity, and anger management issues.

  • Participated in a prison study revealing low MAOA gene activity.

• Immediate Post-Release Behavior

  • Went to a bar after release, met a woman.

  • Became intoxicated and noticed another male hitting on the woman.

  • Confronted the other male but resisted initial urge to violence.

  • Provocation escalated and led to Bob throwing the first punch.

  • Resulted in immediate arrest for breach of release conditions and new criminal charges.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe biological explanations of crime: genetics, neurochemistry, hormones, psychophysiology.

2. Explain principles of evolutionary psychology in relation to crime and offenders.

3. Explore interdependencies of biological theories and environmental factors concerning crime.

4. Show compatibility of biological/evolutionary views with traditional crime theories like social learning.

Theoretical Perspectives on Bob's Behavior

• Perspectives to Understand Behavior

  • Immediate situational factors: alcohol-induced disinhibition, learned violence as conflict resolution.

  • Innate factors: genetic predispositions, evolutionary adaptations in behavior.

• Focus of Chapter

  • Biological and evolutionary explanations of antisocial behavior, crime, and violence.

  • Range of biological explanations presented: genetics, brain neurochemistry, diet.

  • Evolutionary psychology principles and their application to different offenders and types of crime.

Historical Context

• Cesare Lombroso:

  • Father of criminology; believed criminals exhibit distinct physical features.

  • Characterized criminals as evolutionary throwbacks.

• Charles Darwin:

  • Proposed the theory of evolution; influenced later criminological theories.

• Misuse of Darwin's Work

  • Francis Galton's eugenics leading to unethical practices against individuals classified as unfit.

Definitions and Challenges in Studying Crime

• Complexity in Defining Crime

  • Various methods involve comparing antisocial individuals to normal populations; diagnosing conditions like ASPD or CD.

  • Methodological diversity in analyzing criminal behavior across age groups and genders.

• Importance of Theories

  • Organize findings; enable structured understanding of antisocial behavior.

  • Features of a strong theory:

    • Parsimonious

    • Identifies mechanisms and moderators

    • Testable through hypotheses

    • Based on empirical data

    • Interdisciplinary compatibility

    • Respects gender, ethnicity, and culture.

Methodology Overview

• Biological Research Techniques

  • Behavioral genetics: study of twins to discern genetic and environmental impacts on crime.

  • Molecular genetics: identification of specific genetic factors in criminal behavior.

  • Neurochemical studies link hormonal and neurotransmitter levels to aggression and crime.

Biological Theories of Crime

• Genetics and Crime

  • Focus on genetic influences on behavior.

  • Twin Studies: Comparison of concordance rates for antisocial behavior in MZ (monozygotic) vs. DZ (dizygotic) twins.

  • Adoption Studies: Comparing behaviors of adopted children to biological and adoptive parents; insights into genetic contributions.

• Research Findings from Adoption Studies

  • A meta-analysis indicates heritability (41%), shared environment (16%), and non-shared environment (43%) play roles in antisocial behavior.

  • Recognizes the complex interplay of genetic predispositions and environmental factors in behavior.

  • Importance of gene-environment interactions explored (e.g. maltreatment's amplified effects in genetically predisposed children).

Molecular Genetics Research

• MAOA Gene Studies

  • MAOA: low activity version linked with increased aggression, especially in maltreated children.

  • Groundbreaking Caspi et al. study indicated strong interactions between genetic risk and childhood maltreatment implications on antisocial behavior.

  • Research replication reinforcing the gene-environment relationship.

Neurochemistry and Crime

• Hormones and Neurotransmitters Link

  • Importance of serotonin linked to mood regulation and aggression; associated with antisocial behavior.

  • Hormonal factors (e.g. testosterone) linked to increased aggression but without a strictly causal relationship.

Future Directions

• Growing interest in biological/evolutionary perspectives in criminology.

• Recognition of complexity in criminal behavior; integrating biological and social factors essential.

• Ongoing refinement of theories to include multidimensional aspects of behavior.

Summary

• Multiple pathways explain criminal behavior focusing on evolutionary and biological perspectives.

• Environment's role in shaping biological predispositions emphasized as essential.

• Misconception correction: Evolutionary explanations do not inherently contradict traditional theories but can complement them.

• The complexity and interconnectedness of genetic, environmental, and their interactive factors underpin the pathways to crime.

Case Study: Bob's Behavior

Bob's Background

• Recently released from prison after a five-year sentence for multiple offenses, including violent crimes and property offenses.

• Long history of criminal behavior characterized by numerous fights, break and enters, and excessive alcohol consumption, indicating patterns of impulsivity and disregard for social norms.

• Psychological evaluations reveal a troubling history of childhood abuse, which likely contributed to ongoing issues with impulsivity, anger management, and social interactions.

• Participation in a prison study has brought attention to Bob's genetic profile, specifically indicating low activity of the MAOA gene—an enzyme associated with the regulation of neurotransmitters that play a significant role in mood and aggression.

Immediate Post-Release Behavior

• Following his release from prison, Bob visited a local bar where he engaged in socializing and drinking excessively.

• He encountered a woman he was interested in and noticed another male attempting to flirt with her, which triggered feelings of jealousy and insecurity.

• Despite his initial impulse to react violently, Bob resisted for a brief moment, showcasing a fleeting attempt at self-control. However, as provocation continued and escalated, the restraint faltered, resulting in Bob throwing the first punch in the altercation.

• This unfortunate decision led to his immediate arrest for breaching release conditions, compounding his legal troubles with new criminal charges.

Learning Objectives

• Understand biological explanations of crime, focusing on factors such as genetics, neurochemistry, hormones, and psychophysiology.

• Explain principles of evolutionary psychology related to crime, emphasizing the adaptation of behaviors over time in response to environmental pressures.

• Explore the interplay between biological theories and environmental influences in shaping criminal behavior, acknowledging that neither factor operates in isolation.

• Demonstrate alignment of biological and evolutionary explanations with traditional crime theories, including concepts from social learning theory.

Theoretical Perspectives on Bob's Behavior

• Immediate Situational Factors: Explore how alcohol-induced disinhibition contributed to Bob's inability to respond rationally and peacefully to a perceived threat.

• Learned Violence: Acknowledge the role of learned behaviors in conflict resolution stemming from Bob's past experiences, both in his upbringing and his time in prison.

• Innate Factors: Consider genetic predispositions to aggression and their evolutionary significance including inherited traits that may predispose individuals to antisocial behavior.

Focus of Chapter

• Examine biological and evolutionary explanations for antisocial behavior, crime, and violence, and the diverse range of biological theories encompassing genetic influences, neurochemistry, and nutritional impacts on behavior.

• Discuss the principles of evolutionary psychology and how they apply to various offenders and types of criminal activity, considering adaptations that promote survival yet lead to criminal behavior.

Historical Context

• Cesare Lombroso: Known as the father of criminology, Lombroso posited that criminals possessed distinct physical features, casting them as evolutionary ``throwbacks“ and suggesting biological determinism in criminal behavior.

• Charles Darwin: His theory of evolution profoundly influenced later criminological theories, providing a framework for understanding behavior within the context of natural selection.

• Misuse of Darwin's Work: Recognize the dangerous misinterpretations of Darwin’s theories, notably in the context of eugenics advocated by Francis Galton, leading to unethical practices against individuals deemed ‘unfit.’

Definitions and Challenges in Studying Crime

• Complexity in Defining Crime: Illustrate how the definition of crime can vary, involving comparisons of antisocial individuals with normal populations and the diagnosis of conditions like Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) or Conduct Disorder (CD).

• Methodological Diversity: Emphasize the importance of diverse methodologies in analyzing criminal behavior across different demographics, including various age groups and genders, which enhances the understanding of crime's multifaceted nature.

Importance of Theories

• Theories in criminology serve to organize findings and enable a structured approach to understanding antisocial behavior. Effective theories should be:

  • Parsimonious: They should simplify complex realities without oversimplifying the essential aspects.

  • Identifying Mechanisms: They must identify key mechanisms and moderators that influence criminal behavior.

  • Testable: Strong theories produce hypotheses that can be tested through empirical data.

  • Interdisciplinary Compatibility: They should align with findings from related fields, integrating perspectives from psychology, sociology, and biology.

  • Cultural Respect: Acknowledging and respecting differences in gender, ethnicity, and culture in the development and applicability of theories is crucial.

Methodology Overview

• Biological Research Techniques:

  • Behavioral Genetics: Involving studies on twins to discern genetic versus environmental impacts on criminal behaviors.

  • Molecular Genetics: Research focused on identifying specific genetic factors linked to criminal behavior.

  • Neurochemical Studies: Examination of how hormonal and neurotransmitter levels correlate with aggression and criminal activity.

Biological Theories of Crime

• Genetics and Crime: Understanding the heritable influences on behavior and their significance in shaping antisocial behavior through twin and adoption studies.

  • Twin Studies: Comparison of concordance rates for antisocial behavior in monozygotic (MZ) versus dizygotic (DZ) twins reveals the impact of genetics on criminality.

  • Adoption Studies: Comparative analysis of adopted children's behaviors relative to both biological and adoptive parents sheds light on genetic contributions versus environmental influences.

Research Findings from Adoption Studies

• Meta-analytical findings indicate that heritability accounts for approximately 41% of the variance in antisocial behavior, whereas shared environmental factors account for about 16%, and non-shared environmental factors encompass around 43% of the variance.

• This highlights the intricate interplay of genetic predispositions alongside environmental contexts in shaping behavior, particularly noting the significant role of gene-environment interactions (e.g., maltreatment exacerbating conditions in genetically predisposed children).

Molecular Genetics Research

• MAOA Gene Studies: Investigate the implications of the low-activity version of the MAOA gene, which has been linked to increased aggression, particularly in individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment.

• Notable studies, such as the groundbreaking work by Caspi et al., demonstrate strong interactions between genetic predispositions and environmental factors, reinforcing the gene-environment relationship concerning antisocial behavior.

Neurochemistry and Crime

• Hormones and Neurotransmitters Link: Discuss the role of serotonin in mood stabilization and its association with aggression, providing insight into how alterations in neurochemistry may contribute to antisocial behavior.

• Additionally, explore hormonal influences (e.g., testosterone) that have been linked to increased aggression, although establishing a strictly causal relationship remains challenging and complex.

Future Directions

• There is a burgeoning interest in exploring biological and evolutionary perspectives in criminology, particularly in recognizing the complexity of criminal behavior and the need to integrate biological with social factors comprehensively.

• Ongoing refinement of theories is essential to include multidimensional aspects of behavior, taking into account the interactions between genetic, environmental, and situational factors.

Summary

• The pathways to criminal behavior are multifaceted, highlighting the importance of understanding both evolutionary and biological perspectives.

• The role of environmental factors in shaping biological predispositions is emphasized, underscoring that external influences are essential in the development of antisocial tendencies.

• Essential to correct the misconception that evolutionary explanations contradict traditional theories; rather, they can offer complementary insights that enrich our understanding of crime.

• Acknowledging the complex interplay between genetic, environmental, and interactive factors is critical in grasping the intricacies of pathways to crime.