biology in crime
Of all the factors that can influence criminal behavior, biological influences can definitely play one of the more important roles. Several areas of research support ideas of a genetic influence as well as neurological defects and chemical imbalances that play into motivations of criminal activity. More recent than in the past, biological studies have been carried out, and they have been finding that biology can often be a significant effect on crime. In 1997, Anne Moir and David Jessel printed a book called A Mind to Crime, which looked at various biological tested effects on crime. In the book A Mind to Crime, one of the primary ideas discussed is the genetic theory on crime. Mainly, a description is given how environmental factors interact with genes, which can cause one to be more active in crime; therefore, one gene does not cause crime, but if certain genes interact with environmental factors, then crime is more likely. An example of this possibility is the presence of a gene that can make one more aggressive. This aggressive gene may interact with outside influences where the criminal may be placed in violent or unpleasant situations, which will cause him to act in a criminal manner. Moir and Jessel say, "Geneti
If a biological link to crime were proven, the change we handled criminals in the criminal justice could change significantly. One way it would change is that there would be new drug therapies to correct the problem in the brain, which would be a positive change because the treatment could be quick and the criminal could rid himself of the imbalance that motivates him to cause crime. Another change is that there would be new equipment in the criminal justice system. For example, lethal injections or the electric chair may not be necessary to punish criminals instead we could correct the problem by simple gene therapy. Criminals would also not be as consistent in multiple-offenses in that after a crime is committed, the problem could be fixed and there would be no more motivation to act in criminal manner. Overall, biological research on criminal activity could have a positive effect on not only criminals, but the criminal justice system. There are many positive aspects why research should be conducted on biological influences to explain criminal behavior. One pro is that biology has become a significantly advanced field and research involving it is likely to be more exact and valid then what it used to be. In the past, biology was not as a
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Approximate Word count = 846
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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