Debunking Biological Theories of Crime: The Societal Roots of Criminal Behavior

Abstract

Biological theories argue that whether or not people commit crimes depends on their biological nature. Biosocial theories synthesize biological explanations and sociological explanations to explain the criminal activity. These theories explain the causes of crime as neurological, hormonal, and genetically inherited. These theories need to improve their perspectives on illegal activities. Most of it is assumptive of the proposition that crime is genetically inherited. For instance, the aspect of the physical constitution where criminals are stereotyped is based on the shape of their eyes, facial looks, and arms. This proposition lacks logic and cannot be used to define criminals scientifically. Biological and biosocial theories highlight the biological features that prompt criminal activities. It is difficult to say that these features are predominant in criminals and exclude criminal non-control groups. The theories exclude the physical traits that may have been caused by psychological and mental disorders that are physically present in persons. These persons with such physical characteristics may be unfairly judged as criminals when they are not. The biological and biosocial theories question whether crime can be punished since it is biologically determined. Judicial punishment will be sensitive to this subject area which may raise ethical issues. However, biological theories cannot be relevant in explaining human behavior. I believe that crime is socially defined, and no one is born a criminal. Learning and the environment influence criminal activity more than biological theories. Biological theories do not provide causal evidence on the specific genes that cause abnormal human behavior. Crime is socially defined. The mapping of DNA has brought new information. It challenges scientists to look for a gene that causes certain diseases while others are looking for a gene that causes criminal activity (Watts et al., 2016). Unfortunately, the specific gene that causes illegal activity has not been found. Crime...