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Trait Theory (Biological and Psychological

Theories of Crime)

Trait Theory (Biological and Psychological

Theories of Crime)

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Biology, Psychology, and Crime

Criminological Classifications Early Trait Theories (Foundations) Demise of Biological Explanations Contemporary Trait Theories

1. Causes for re-emergence2. Core Principles3. Subranches

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Foundations of Biological Trait Theory Biological explanation of criminal

behavior first became popular during the middle part of the 19th Century with the introduction of positivism.

Early positivists included: Lombroso (belief in certain physical

characteristics indicate a criminal nature) Ferri (belief in biological, social and organic

factors as a cause of crime and delinquency) Sheldon (belief in body type)

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Foundations of Trait Theories

Lombroso

DEVIATION IN HEAD SIZE AND SHAPE FROM TYPE COMMON TO RACE AND REGION FROM WHICH THE CRIMINAL CAME

ASYMMETRY OF THE FACE EYE DEFECTS AND PECULIARITIES EXCESSIVE DIMENSIONS OF THE JAW AND CHEEK BONES EARS OF UNUSUAL SIZE, OR OCCASIONALLY VERY SMALL,

OR STANDING OUT FROM THE HEAD AS DO THOSE OF THE CHIMPANZEE

NOSE TWISTED, UPTURNED, OR FLATTENED IN THIEVES, OR AQUILINE OR BEAK-LIKE IN MURDERERS, OR WITH A TIP RISING LIKE A PEAK FROM SWOLLEN NOSTRILS.

LIPS FLESHY, SWOLLEN, & PROTRUDING ABUNDANCE, VARIETY, AND PRECOCITY OF WRINKLES INVERSION OF SEX CHARACTERS IN THE PELVIC ORGANS EXCESSIVE LENGTH OF ARMS

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Foundations of Trait Theory Sheldon

The view that criminals have physical or mental traits that make them different or abnormal

• Somatotype (body-build) makes people susceptible to delinquent behavior

• Mesomorphs – muscular/athletic (aggression)• Ectomorphs – tall/thin (intellectual) • Endomorphs – heavy/slow (fences)

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Sheldon (Somatotype Theory)

Endomorphic

Ectomorphic Mesomorphic

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MethodologyMethodology

TestingTesting

BiophobiaBiophobia

Debunking Early Positivist Theories

The research The research of the of the

earliest earliest positivists positivists (who were (who were biologists) biologists)

was plagued was plagued by poor:by poor:

Lack of attention to Lack of attention to sociological constructssociological constructs

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Foundations of Trait Theory

Impact of Sociobiology Sociobiology reemerged in the 1970s

• Edmund O. Wilson Sociobiologists view the gene as the ultimate unit of

human destiny Ensuring of survival

• reciprocal altruism

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Contemporary Biological Perspectives

Core Principles1. Equipotentiality2. Correlates3. Operationalization

Sub-branches1. Biochemical2. Neurophysiological3. Genetics4. Biosocial/Evolutionary

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Crime, especially Crime, especially violence, is a functionviolence, is a functionof diet, vitamin intake,of diet, vitamin intake,hormonal imbalance,hormonal imbalance,

or food allergies.or food allergies.

Crime, especially Crime, especially violence, is a functionviolence, is a functionof diet, vitamin intake,of diet, vitamin intake,hormonal imbalance,hormonal imbalance,

or food allergies.or food allergies.

CAUSECAUSECAUSECAUSE

Explains irrationalExplains irrationalviolence. Shows how violence. Shows how

the environment the environment interacts with personal interacts with personal

traits to influencetraits to influencebehavior.behavior.

Explains irrationalExplains irrationalviolence. Shows how violence. Shows how

the environment the environment interacts with personal interacts with personal

traits to influencetraits to influencebehavior.behavior.

STRENGTHSSTRENGTHSSTRENGTHSSTRENGTHS

Biochemical Perspective

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Criminals and delinquents often sufferbrain impairment, as measured by the EEG,

Attention deficit disorder and minimum brain dysfunction arerelated to antisocial

behavior.

Criminals and delinquents often sufferbrain impairment, as measured by the EEG,

Attention deficit disorder and minimum brain dysfunction arerelated to antisocial

behavior.

CAUSECAUSE

Explains irrationalviolence. Shows how

the environmentinteracts with

personal traits toinfluence behavior.

Explains irrationalviolence. Shows how

the environmentinteracts with

personal traits toinfluence behavior.

STRENGTHSSTRENGTHS

Neurophysiological Perspective

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Criminal traits andCriminal traits andpredispositions arepredispositions are

inherited. The inherited. The criminality of parentscriminality of parents

can predict thecan predict thedelinquency ofdelinquency of

children.children.

CAUSECAUSE

Explains why only aExplains why only asmall percentage of small percentage of

youth in a high-crimeyouth in a high-crimearea become chronicarea become chronic

offenders.offenders.

STRENGTHSSTRENGTHS

Genetic Perspective

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As the human raceAs the human raceevolved, traits and evolved, traits and characteristics havecharacteristics havebecome ingrained. become ingrained. Some of these makeSome of these make

people aggressive andpeople aggressive andpredisposed to predisposed to commit crime.commit crime.

CAUSECAUSE

Explains highExplains highviolence rates and violence rates and aggregate gender aggregate gender differences in thedifferences in the

crime rate.crime rate.

STRENGTHSSTRENGTHS

Evolutionary Perspective

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Biological Trait Theories

Evaluation of the Biological Branch of Trait Theory Critics charge biological theories are racist and

dysfunctional Biological explanations do not account for

geographical variations in crime Lack of empirical testing

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Contemporary Psychological PerspectivesContemporary Psychological Perspectives          Core Principles- Psychological Traits Matter

- Learning Process (Imitation and Modeling)

          Operationalization           Sub-branches

- Controlling the Feebleminded- Psychodynamic/Freudian psychology- Cognitive- Behavioral- Social Learning

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Psychological Trait Theories

Defective intelligence Charles Goring Crime could be controlled by regulating reproduction

of the feebleminded

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Psychological Theory:Psychodynamic PerspectivePsychological Theory:Psychodynamic Perspective

Major Premise…..

The development of the unconscious personality early in childhood influence behavior for the rest of a person’s life. Criminals have weak egos and damaged personalities.

Strengths….

Explains the onset of crime and why crime and drug abuse cut across class lines.

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Psychological Trait Theories

Psychodynamic: Freud suggested people carry the residue of

childhood attachments that guide future interpersonal relationships

ID (pleasure principal): unconscious biological urges for food, sex and other life-sustaining necessities

Ego (reality principal): helps guide the actions of the Id within boundaries of social convention

Superego (conscience): the moral aspect of one’s personality

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Psychological Trait Theories

Psychodynamic: Freud (Cont.) Eros:

• The most basic drive present at birth• Conflicts during psychosexual stages of development • May lead to “fixations”

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Psychological Trait Theories

Psychodynamics of Abnormal Behavior Inferiority complex:

• Adler People with a drive for superiority Bipolar disorder:

• Moods alternate between depression and elation Disruptive Behavior Disorder:

• DBD includes Oppositional Defiant Disorder• ODD: Defiance toward authority figures

Conduct Disorder:• CD is more serious• Viewed as severely anti-social

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Psychological Trait Theories

Crime and Mental Illness Personality disorders are referred to as psychosis Paranoid Schizophrenia:

• Delusions of wrongdoing and persecution Despite evidence of mental illness

• Recidivism among mentally disordered is less than the general population

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Major Premise…..Individual reasoning

processes influence behavior. Reasoning is influenced by the way people perceive their environment and by their moral and intellectual development.

Strengths….Shows why criminal

behavior patterns change over time as people mature and develop their moral reasoning. May explain aging-out process.

Psychological Theory: Cognitive Perspective

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Psychological Trait Theories

Cognitive Theory Focuses on how people perceive and mentally

represent the world around them and solve problems Moral development (6 stages):

• Jean Piaget• People obey the law to avoid punishment

Humanistic psychology: • Self-awareness approach, getting in touch with feelings

Information Processing: • How people process, store, encode, retrieve, and

manipulate information

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Cognitive Theory cont’d Information Processing (3)

Encode information Search for proper response and decide

on next action Act on decision

So, why do some folks commit crime and others do not? Scripts and use of cues can make a difference!

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Psychological Theory:Psychological Theory:Behavioral PerspectiveBehavioral Perspective

Major Premise…..People commit crime

when they model their behavior after others they see being rewarded for the same acts. Behavior is reinforced by rewards and extinguished by punishment.

Strengths….Explains the role of

significant others in the crime process. Shows how family life and media can influence crime and violence.

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Psychological Trait Theories

Bobo Dolls Experiment Behavioral Theory

Human actions are developed through learning experiences

Social Learning Theory: • People learn aggression through life experiences• Violence is learned via behavior modeling

• Examples family interactions, environmental experiences, and mass media

• An event that heightens arousal • Aggressive skills• Expected outcomes• Consistency of behavior with values

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Behavior andBehavior andvalues becomevalues become

consistentconsistent

Social Learning TheorySocial Learning Theory

Factors thathelp produceviolence andaggression.

Factors thathelp produceviolence andaggression.

ExpectedExpectedoutcomes -outcomes -

rewardsrewards

LearnedLearnedaggressiveaggressive

skillsskills

An eventAn eventthat heightensthat heightens

arousalarousal

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Psychological Theories Summary (Concept summary 5.2)

Psychodynamic, Behavioral, Cognitive Major Premise? Strengths? Research focus?

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Psychological Traits and Characteristics

Personality and Crime Personality:

• The reasonably stable patterns of behavior, thoughts, and emotions that distinguish one person from another.

Research has identified personality traits • Eysenck extroversion/introversion and

stability/instability scales

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Psychological Traits and Characteristics

Personality and Crime Antisocial personality (unique set of characteristics):

• Psychopath• Sociopathy• Antisocial persons suffering defects or aberrations

Research on personality: • Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

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Psychological Traits and Characteristics