The Causes of Crime: New Biological Approaches

by Sarnoff A. Mednick , Terrie E. Moffitt , Susan A. Stack

• ISBN13: 9780521111898
• ISBN10: 0521111897
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-06-11
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

In this century, social factors have dominated theories of antisocial behaviour to the near-exclusion of other explanatory variables in the study of criminology. Criminologists are now coming to realise that fully understanding the causes of criminality requires consideration of both social and biological variables and that their models must take into account the interaction of the two. Reports of the relevant scientific work have previously been scattered through journals with varying disciplinary and geographical limitations. The book presents state-of-the-art investigation into the biological factors that produce criminal activity from authorities in nine countries who are on the forefront of research in behaviour genetics, neurophysiology, biochemistry, neuropsychology, psychophysiology, psychiatry and sociology. The Causes of Crime: New Biological Approaches offers the first comprehensive overview and integration of this new field of enquiry. It will be an invaluable resource for everyone concerned with the causes of criminal behaviour and interventions to reduce its frequency.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Biological factors in crime causation: the reactions of social scientists

Methodological questions and implications

Some cautions for the biological approach to crime causation

Watch out for that last variable

Implications of biological findings for criminological research

Definitions of antisocial behaviour in biosocial research

Evidence for the role of genetics

Genetic factors in the etiology of criminal behaviour

Genetic and environmental factors in antisocial behaviour disorders

Psychophysiological and neurophysiological factors

Autonomic nervous system factors in criminal behaviour

Electroencephalogram among criminals

Childhood diagnostic and neurophysiological predictors of teenage arrest rates: an eight-year prospective study

Neurological factors

Cerebral dysfunctions and persistent juvenile delinquency

Violent behaviour and cerebral hemisphere function

Perceptual asymmetries and information processing in psychopaths

Biological Factors

The neuroendocrinology and neurochemistry of antisocial behaviour

Testosterone and adrenaline: aggressive antisocial behaviour in normal adolescent males

Personality correlates of plasma testosterone levels in young delinquents: an example of person-situation interaction?

Metabolic dysfunctions among habitually violent offenders: reactive hypoglycemia and cholesterol levels

Treatment Issues

The role of psychosurgical studies in the control of antisocial behaviour Mark

Pharmacological approaches to the treatment of antisocial behaviour

Indexes

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