Biosocial theory and crime
What is the biosocial theory? Do you believe an individual’s family or community interacting with biological factors such as diet or neurological makeup controls and influences behavior; therefore, causing an individual to commit crimes based on preexisting physical or medical conditions? Provide an example for your position on this topic
Biosocial theory is a combination of biological and social influences that shapes one’s personality and behaviors. The theory creates the psychology behind gender identity. The social forces shape our behavior while biological factors influence them. For instance, men were responsible for hunting and gathering due to their bigger and stronger physique. On the other hand females are given the homemaker roles due to their physique. Therefore, psychological differences occur out of these social roles. The biological influences can get altered by the environmental stimuli. Biosocial theory is used in criminology to determine why some people commit crimes and others don’t. The theory explains that the factors that contribute to criminal behavior include social factors, environmental and biological factors (Christiansen,2013). Factors such as birth complications, alcohol and nicotine exposure can contribute to criminal behavior. For instance, a child that has been exposed to a drug addict parent while still in the womb is likely to be a criminal if its raised in stressful conditions.
Biological factors such as genetics can contribute to criminal behavior (Mednick,2007). Aggression behavior can get passed down in the family gene. Individuals with high levels of mono anime oxidase are likely to commit aggression crimes. however, a person’s behavior cannot solely be used to predict behavior. Also, hormones such as cortisol and testosterone are responsible for behaviors that lead to crime. Low levels of cortisol means the person is antisocial and has criminal tendencies (Christiansen,2013). Therefore, they are likely to be less responsive to stress and wrong doing. High levels f testosterone has been found to cause criminal and delinquent behavior. However, other factors such as poverty and drug use play a role in contributing to the violence.
References
Mednick, S. A. (2007). A bio-social theory of the learning of law-abiding behavior. Biosocial bases of criminal behavior, 1-8.
Christiansen, K. O. (2013). Biosocial bases of criminal behavior. Gardner Press.
