Introduction
Despite the intention to create a perfect society and remove unwanted problems and challenges, criminal behaviours continue developing, so crimes should be examined and predicted. Criminal psychology contains a number of studies to gain a better understanding of crime causes through applying science (Durrant, 2018). People may participate in crimes for different reasons: sometimes, it is easy to explain why individuals prefer a criminal path, and some cases require more attention and knowledge on the topic. Today, many definitions of crime can be given, and one of the most common ideas is an act against the law that includes prohibited actions harmful to the community (Ručman, 2019). There are many approaches to learning the major characteristics of crimes, and biological and evolutionary explanations are frequently used. Ted Bundy, Fred and Rose West, and Jeffrey Dahmer are the names that terrify and provoke multiple negative attitudes and bewilderment. Their cases prove that biological and evolutionary approaches effectively describe human behaviours and decisions. Evaluating biology and evolution in criminology and discussing the existing theories on genetic and developmental bases help shed light on weird human needs and antisocial behaviours.
Biological Approach to Criminal Behaviour
Although some people think that a crime is an outcome of multiple internal and external issues, inherited biology plays a crucial role in promoting criminal psychology. Today, it does not take much time to find credible literature on biological reasons for criminal and antisocial behaviours, and researchers continue focusing on such factors as brain mechanisms, genetics, and psychophysiology (Ling et al., 2019). During the 19th-20th centuries, several theories to explain crime were introduced by Bénédict Augustin Morel (degeneration theory), Cesare Lombroso (atavistic theory of crime), William Sheldon (somatotype theory), and Terrie Moffit (two-path theory) (Nickerson, 2022). Modern theories are based on the brain’s work and related structural or functional problems of the prefrontal cortex and amygdala or gene interactions (Ling et al., 2019). Each theory has its grounds and evidence, and real criminology cases prove their urgency in science.
Degeneration theory was introduced by Morel in the middle of the 19th century. The researcher used the differences between social classes and racial groups to explain the impact of substances on physical and moral deterioration and the development of new generations’ characteristics (Nickerson, 2022). The examples can be the movies about Ocean’s or Corleone’s families when crime heredity was evident, despite the intention to resist or drop the offered business. Morel’s idea lies in the heritability of degeneracy and serves as a solid basis for other biological theories.
Some people believe that it is possible to distinguish criminals per their appearances. In 1876, Lombroso shared the atavistic theory of crime according to which criminality was inherited (Nickerson, 2022). In terms of this theory, criminals could be easily identified by how they looked and their physical characteristics (drooping eyes, cold stares, protruding jaws, or hawk-like noses) (Durrant, 2018; Nickerson, 2022). In other words, individuals possessed atavistic features, also known as throwbacks (Durrant, 2018). Similar thoughts were developed by Sheldon as a part of his somatotype theory based on the body types (ectomorph, endomorph, and mesomorph) (Nickerson, 2022). Most criminals turned out to be mesomorphs with muscular frames. However, this approach had certain shortages and poorly investigated areas like applying control groups and diverse observations, which could explain that damaged physical appearance caused problematic interactions and negative emotions like anger. The examples of Fred and Rose West or Jeffrey Dahmer show that it is possible to have a pleasant or unremarkable appearance and violently kill people.
Thus, biological reasons should be discussed deeper in the brain and genes. Moffit offered the two-path theory that untied biological and social factors during different spans of human development (Nickerson, 2022). Low activity of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene plays a crucial role in physical aggression and violence due to epigenetic changes and gene-environment interactions (Ling et al., 2019). The construction of the brain may also determine human predisposition to crimes. If the prefrontal cortex or amygdala is impaired, antisocial behaviours can be increased due to unreasonable fears, aggression, and negativism. Not many family members of criminals or criminals themselves allow investigating their brains after their deaths. Still, some cases proved this biological approach and the impact of brain traumas in the past on criminal behaviours in the future. Dennis Rader’s mother accidentally dropped him on his head; Henry Lee Lucas’s mother slashed him with a knife; John Wayne Gacy hit his head when swinging, which provoked a blood clot in the brain (“10 notorious serial killers,” n.d.). Thus, neurological theories of crime should never be neglected, and the goal of criminal psychology is to use the already mentioned cases to prove biology as a solid explanation of crimes.
Evolutionary Approach to Criminal Behaviour
Evolutionary theories represent a significant part of the biosocial approach in criminal psychology. The main idea of this approach is that violent behaviours and crimes should be analysed on the basis of a Darwinian framework and the role of the environment in human decision- and choice-making (Walsh & Jorgensen, 2018). This approach has a long way of development, and many theories admit the relationship between natural selection, adaptation, sexual preferences, and parental investment (Durrant, 2018). With time, people are able to develop a number of traits that define their behaviours and choices through the prism of evolution. Organisms have different physical and psychological qualities that may be heritable or obtained, and the necessity to adapt to particular situations affect decisions to survive, achieve satisfaction, or meet other personal or professional needs (Durrant, 2018). When people expand their relationships, they become vulnerable to new conditions, including racial or social inequality, personal development, or restrictions.
Evolution and biology are closely related items but contain different attempts to describe criminal identities. For example, Hans Eysenck’s personality theory explains the genetic predisposition and the formation of new thoughts and qualities through three dimensions, namely psychoticism, extraversion-introversion, and neuroticism (Durrant, 2018). According to this psychologist, extraverts’ under-active nervous system makes them sick to excitement and a low level of arousal, which explains the necessity of additional sources of motivation and stimulation. In most cases, external stimulation presupposes criminal behaviours. Introverts, on the other hand, prefer to control their emotions and demonstrate serious and preserved attitudes toward the world. However, their preserving behaviours may be poorly recognised by society, and the evolution of unsolved problems or undiscussed concerns also results in criminal activities that are hard to identify. Compared to neuroticism, which is characterised by a stable nervous system, psychoticism is related to antisocial and aggressive manners because these people avoid socialisation and cooperation.
At the end of the 20th century, Philippe Rushton offered a hierarchical racial theory. His purpose was to address genetic similarities between the representatives of several ethnic groups (Salter, 2018). Evolution means the increased brain masses and new genetic characteristics due to travelling to discover new lands and opportunities. When people did not have the law to follow or the norms to behave, they lived by a simple rule: to kill for survival. Now, people are exposed to new requirements, obligations, and expectations, the awareness of which affect and promote their criminal behaviours. The cases of Stacey Hyde, Sally Challen, and Farieissia Martin, when women killed men due to the necessity to protect themselves, show the drawbacks of the existed court system. Many women were criminals and convicted of crimes because of their fears or the fears for their relatives and friends.
Theories in Case Studies
There are many cases studies taken from real life to give a biological and evolutionary explanation of criminal behaviours. Parental investment theory proves that the relationships people develop in their childhood define their further attitudes toward society (Durrant, 2018). Applying this theory to understanding Fred West’s murders, one should remember his childhood history and complex relationships with the father. The man raped his daughters and showed his son how to do the same, which explained his deviant behaviours with his sisters and unsustainable impulses (“Fred West,” 2014). At the age of 17, he survived a motorcycle accident with a serious head injury (“Fred West,” 2014). His mental health was significantly changed, demonstrating aggression and anger without reason. On the one hand, it is correct to use the evolutionary approach and focus on the role of the family. On the other hand, the biological perspective and brain damage could explain his criminal behaviours. In Ted Bundy’s case, his childhood was spoiled by conflicts with a stepfather, with no physical traumas, which supports the evolutionary psychological paradigm.
The Best Explanation of Criminal Behaviours
Taking into consideration the offered examples and evaluations, the biological approach has many grounds for existence, but the evolutionary explanation remains the best for studying criminal behaviours. Many people could have brain problems and survive after accidents with mental or physical damage, but a small part of them becomes murderers or criminals. However, when people experience serious sexually related traumas in childhood, relationships with parents affect human behaviours. If a person has kind and supportive parents, other outside sources of impact like friends, education, or media may provoke criminal decisions. Thus, regarding current observations and historical evaluations, the evolutionary approach is more appropriate for understanding criminals and their decisions.
Conclusion
Criminal psychology is one of the most provocative and interesting studies with the help of which it is possible to understand criminals and their bad decisions. In this paper, attention was paid to the biological and evolutionary approaches to assessing crimes and human behaviours. It is correct to believe that some biological deviations, mental health problems, and traumas may increase the number of criminal activities. At the same time, the impact of outside factors like parental involvement, friendship, education, and media news should not be neglected. When people see and know how to kill, hide evidence, and prove their reasons, they are ready to choose the wrong path and kill. Criminals do not want to explain their actions but achieve the desired outcome and be satisfied. The cases of West, Bundy, and Dahmer are not the only ones in criminal histories, but their stories show how dangerous biology, evolution, adaptation, and society can be for human development.
References
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Nickerson, C. (2022). Biological theories of crime. SimplyPsychology. Web.
Ručman, A. B. (2019). What is crime? A search for an answer encompassing civilisational legitimacy and social harm. Crime, Law and Social Change, 72(2), 211-226. Web.
Salter, F. (2018). The biosocial study of ethnicity. In R. L. Hopcroft (Ed.), Oxford handbook of evolution, biology, and society (pp. 543-568). Oxford University Press
Walsh, A., & Jorgensen, C. (2018). Evolutionary theory and criminology. In R. L. Hopcroft (Ed.), Oxford handbook of evolution, biology, and society (pp. 517-542). Oxford University Press