Biology Is Destiny Essay

1629 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Criminal behavior causes

Biology defined as “the study of living organisms, divided into many specialised fields that cover their morphology, physiology, anatomy, behaviour, origin, and distribution the physiology, behaviour, and other qualities of a particular organism or class of organisms: human biology.” (dictionary). Since, biology is the study of living organisms, it has been used in the study of criminal behaviour, why some behaviour in particular manners such as killing of another being and others do not. Nevertheless, this exactly what biology is trying to improve on and have now brought one of Lombroso’s idea of “born criminals” into the light to try and provide answers that biology is destiny; suggesting there are genes that influences individuals to committing crimes rather than environmental factors. Thesis: For the purpose of this reflection paper, I will compare the arguments for biological and environmental perspectives in an attempt to support my argument against biology is destiny, however with an open mind that they could both influence the outcome of criminal activities. Biology has been accountable for many explanations to do with living organisms and that of human nature, therefore it is not absurd that theorists would go to the great distant of suggesting that biology is destiny. Ferguson and Beaver (2009, p. 287) note that “biological hard determinism implies that human behaviour is due only to genetic or other biological effects, and is not influenced by the environment, nor open to the effects of agency.” I acknowledge the work biology has done, it is outstanding the amount of time and focus put into it to offer valuable explanations to the human generations to come still. Nevertheless, I would not go to the length that biology ... ... middle of paper ... ...ybe I am a strong believer of the blank slate and therefore would like to only blame the environment for the wrongs that have happened rather think that it was something I was already born with. Inclusion, biology has provide an outstanding amount of work to show that there is a connection between criminality and the brain which can be tracked back before birth. Nonetheless, there are also explanations provided by environmental causes in criminality, although there is no clear evident like that of biology which shows how environment influences criminality. Furthermore, with evidence suggesting that criminality is in fact a cause of genetics and environment interacting together. As such I am more open to this idea of the two being the products of criminality, however I with no doubt is still more environmental pro as it offers more freedom than biological fixation.

Show More
Related

  • Is Criminal Behavior Determined Biologically?

    1188 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nature vs. nurture has been one of the oldest and most debated topics among psychologists over the years. This concept discusses whether a child is born into this world with their developmental work cut out for them or if a child is a “blank slate” and their experiences are what shape them into who they are. Over the years and plenty of research, psychologists have all mostly come to agree that it’s a little bit of both. Children are both born with some genetic predispositions while other aspects of the child’s development are strongly influenced by their surrounding environment. This plays into the criminal justice system when discussing where criminal behavior stems from. Is a criminal’s anti-social behavior just part of their DNA or is it a result of their upbringing? The answer to this question is not definite. Looking at research a strong argument can be made that criminals developed their anti-social patterns through the atmosphere in which they were raise, not their DNA.

    Read More

  • Robert Merton’s Theory of Anomie

    1914 Words  | 4 Pages

    The first well known study of crime and criminals is that of one who is often referred to as the ‘father of criminology’, Cesar Lombroso. Lombroso’s argument was based around the Darwinian theory of human evolution and his theory argued that criminals were a throw back to an earlier period of human progression. In other words, they were less evolved humans, with visible physical features such as large ears and big lips. His theory suggested that criminals were born and not made therefore, where genetically prone to criminality. Merton’s argument was to the contrary.

    Read More

  • The Eugenics Movement for Criminality

    569 Words  | 2 Pages

    Due to an increased surge of criminality in many cities during the 1900s, eugenicists began to focus on the role of genes in determining criminal behavior. Many lived by the motto “culture does not make the man, but man makes the culture.” This essentially stated that the less fortunate tend to create and gravitate towards poverty stricken environments. While scientists did not totally weigh out the environmental influence on criminality, they did believe the main cause of criminal behavior was defective genes.

    Read More

  • Lombroso’s Biological Theory of Crime

    616 Words  | 2 Pages

    The most vivid example of the biological determinism is the theory of Cesare Lombroso. Lombroso based his theory on the assumption that criminals have certain physiognomic features or abnormalities. Lombroso wanted to be able to detect future criminals in order to isolate them from the society. This gave criminology a strong push to create new methods of dealing with criminals and prevent crimes. Lombroso implied that prisoners had common facial characteristics. If to exaggerate criminals in Lombroso’s theory can be identified through the shape of their skulls, asymmetry of the face and head, large cheekbones, ears and lips, long arms and a twisted nose. Lombroso’s theory is the oldest one and it can without a doubt be called the main background data for the whole process of the development of criminology. Lombroso stated that men are more inclined to commit crimes due to the conservatism and the narrow-mindedness of their interests. According to Lombroso women have less social contacts and this is what predetermines their conservatism. Thi...

    Read More

  • Which Trait Theory Most Explains Criminal Behavior

    1238 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...& Snipes, J. (2010). Biological Factors and Criminal Behavior.Vold's theoretical criminology (6th Ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Read More

  • The Biological Crime Theory

    921 Words  | 2 Pages

    Biological crime theory describes that an individual is born with the desire to commit a certain crime. Evolutionary factors influence an individual’s involvement in criminal behavior. “Biological theories focus on aspects of the physical body, such as inherited genes, evolutionary factors, brain structures, or the role of hormones in influencing behavior” (Marsh, I, 2006, 3). Murderers that are innate to kill are born with factors such as mental illnesses that are the driving force as to why one may kill. Because of the biological crime theory, some individuals, though rare, are able to plead insanity. This is because the actions of the individual are said to be beyond their control (Ministry of Justice, 2006, 3).

    Read More

  • Nature versus Nurture: Criminal Behavior

    2165 Words  | 5 Pages

    Nature versus nurture has been argued in attempt to understand how criminals behave. The theory of what influences psychopath and serial killers’ violent and destructive pathways has not been agreed on till this day. Criminals such as psychopaths and serial killers have been researched for the past two decades. Scientists have found that genetics is a determining factor of who becomes a serial killer. It is important to understand the determinants involved within a serial killer, because if these social and environmental causes are discovered, they can be altered and controlled to reduce crime (Lykken, 1993). With more studies, we would therefore prevent mass murders and could assist in significant reductions of crime within society.

    Read More

  • Genetic Determinism

    2847 Words  | 6 Pages

    Melo-Martin, Immaculado de. "When is Biology Destiny? Biological Determinism and Social Responsibility." Philosophy of Science 70.15 (2003): 11. Expanded Academic Index. Infotrac. Mabee Library, Topeka. 20 April 2004

    Read More

  • Example Of Epigenetic Essay

    725 Words  | 2 Pages

    When we say that “DNA is not destiny,” it means that what is in our DNA isn’t the end product because we can use Epigenetics to affect what genes may be turned off and on. Epigenetics “is the study of changes in gene activity that do not involve alterations to the genetic code but still get passed down to at least one successive generation” (Cloud, 2013). We can change our environment to reflect the changes in our genes. Some examples of these could include diet and exercise. This idea of Epigenetics changed the idea of genetics because it was once believed that once you had your genes you were trapped by which ones were turned off and on. The “Epigenome is sensitive to the cues from the environment” (Watters). It is the Epigenetics which

    Read More

  • The Development of a Criminal Mind

    1330 Words  | 3 Pages

    In conclusion it is shown through examinations of a average criminals biological makeup is often antagonized by a unsuitable environment can lead a person to crime. Often a criminal posses biological traits that are fertile soil for criminal behavior. Some peoples bodies react irrationally to a abnormal diet, and some people are born with criminal traits. But this alone does not explain their motivation for criminal behavior. It is the environment in which these people live in that release the potential form criminal behavior and make it a reality. There are many environmental factors that lead to a person committing a crime ranging from haw they were raised, what kind of role models they followed, to having a suitable victims almost asking to be victimized. The best way to solve criminal behavior is to find the source of the problem but this is a very complex issue and the cause of a act of crime cannot be put on one source.

    Read More

  • Genetic Factors and Criminal Behavior

    701 Words  | 2 Pages

    In this article the two authors research the connection between genetic factors and criminal behavior. They look at the causes that make someone act in a criminal way. There are several factors looked at in connection to the cause such as social factors and environmental variables. The social factors being the more examined of the two. They hypothesized that other factors in performance or alone with environmental variables would lead to better understanding of why some people become criminal. The genetic factor of influence due to mental disorders was posed to have a slight role in affecting people to show criminal behavior. Another cause looked at was the combination of genetic and environmental factors, with a possible result of having a higher risk for criminal behavior.

    Read More

  • Is Criminal Behaviour Inherited or Learned?

    1438 Words  | 3 Pages

    Criminologists and sociologist have long been in debate for century's to explain criminal behaviour. The two main paradigms of thought are between 'nature' and 'nurture'. Nature is in reference to a learnt behaviour where a multitude of characteristics, in society influence whether a person becomes deviant such as poverty, physical abuse or neglect. Nurture defines biological features which could inevitability lead to a individuals deviant or criminal behaviour, because criminality is believed by biological positivist to be inherited from a persons parents. However, I believe that criminal behaviour is a mixture of characteristics that lead to deviant acts such as psychological illness & Environmental factors. Therefore, this essay will aim to analyse both biological positivist and psychological positivist perspectives in hope of showing to what extent they play a role in criminal behaviour. Firstly, the essay will look at Cesare Lombroso's research on physical features and how these ideas have moved on to then develop scientific ideas such as genetics to explain criminal behaviour. Secondly, the essay will focus on external factors which may be able to explain criminal behaviour such as the social influences, life chances and Material deprivation.

    Read More

  • Biological Factors And Criminal Behavior

    1112 Words  | 3 Pages

    Theories that are based on biological Factors and criminal behavior have always been slightly ludicrous to me. Biological theories place an excessive emphasis on the idea that individuals are “born badly” with little regard to the many other factors that play a part in this behavior. Criminal behavior may be learned throughout one’s life, but there is not sufficient evidence that proves crime is an inherited trait. In the Born to Be Bad article, Lanier describes the early belief of biological theories as distinctive predispositions that under particular conditions will cause an individual to commit criminal acts. (Lanier, p. 92) Biological criminologists are expected to study the “criminal” rather than the act itself. This goes as far as studying physical features, such as body type, eyes, and the shape or size of one’s head. “Since criminals were less developed, Lombroso felt they could be identified by physical stigmata, or visible physical abnormalities…characteristics as asymmetry of the face; supernumerary nipples, toes, or fingers; enormous jaws; handle-shaped or sensible ears; insensibility to pain; acute sight; and so on.” (Lanier. P. 94). It baffles me that physical features were ever considered a reliable explanation to criminal behavior. To compare one’s features to criminal behavior is not only stereotypical, but also highly unreliable.

    Read More

  • Are Criminals Born or Made?

    2147 Words  | 5 Pages

    These theories represent part of the classic psychological debate, nature versus nurture. Are individuals predisposed to becoming a criminal or are they made through their environment. There are various theories within the biological explanation as to why individuals commit criminal behaviour, these include: genetic theory, hereditary theory, psychosis and brain injury theory. In the next few paragraphs examples of each will be shown. The first theory to be explored is the hereditary theory, which stems from Cesare Lombroso (1876) father of criminology, (Feldman, 1993) whose studies were carried out by morphology.

    Read More

  • The Causes of Criminal Behavior

    776 Words  | 2 Pages

    Different schools of thought propose varying theoretical models of criminality. It is agreeable that criminal behaviour is deep rooted in societies and screams for attention. Biological, Social ecological and psychological model theories are key to helping researchers gain deeper comprehension of criminal behaviour and ways to avert them before they become a menace to society. All these theories put forward a multitude of factors on the outlooks on crime. All these theories have valid relevancy to continuous research on criminal behaviour.

    Read More

More about Biology Is Destiny Essay

Open Document