The Causes of Crime: New Biological Approaches

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

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521111898
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	06/11/2009
Pages:	392
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction: Biological factors in crime causation: the reactions of social scientists Sarnoff A. Mednick; Part I. Methodological questions and implications: 1. Some cautions for the biological approach to crime causation Gordon Trasler; 2. Watch out for that last variable Malcolm W. Klein; 3. Implications of biological findings for criminological research David P. Farrington; 4. Definitions of antisocial behaviour in biosocial research Preben Wolf; Part II. Evidence for the role of genetics: 5. Genetic factors in the etiology of criminal behaviour Sarnoff A. Mednick, William F. Gabrielli, Jr., and Barry Hutchings; 6. Genetic and environmental factors in antisocial behaviour disorders C. R. Cloninger and I. I. Gottesman; Part II. Psychophysiological and neurophysiological factors: 7. Autonomic nervous system factors in criminal behaviour Peter H. Venables; 8. Electroencephalogram among criminals Jan Volavka; 9. Childhood diagnostic and neurophysiological predictors of teenage arrest rates: an eight-year prospective study James H. Satterfield; Part IV. Neurological factors: 10. Cerebral dysfunctions and persistent juvenile delinquency W. Buikhuisen; 11. Violent behaviour and cerebral hemisphere function Israel Nachshon and Deborah Denno; 12. Perceptual asymmetries and information processing in psychopaths Robert D. Hare and John F. Connolly; Part V. Biological Factors: 13. The neuroendocrinology and neurochemistry of antisocial behaviour Robert T. Rubin; 14. Testosterone and adrenaline: aggressive antisocial behaviour in normal adolescent males Dan Olweus; 15. Personality correlates of plasma testosterone levels in young delinquents: an example of person-situation interaction? Daisy Schalling; 16. Metabolic dysfunctions among habitually violent offenders: reactive hypoglycemia and cholesterol levels Matti Virkkunen; Part VI. Treatment Issues: 17. The role of psychosurgical studies in the control of antisocial behaviour Mark A. J. O'Callaghan and Douglas Carroll; 18. Pharmacological approaches to the treatment of antisocial behaviour C. R. Cloninger; Indexes.