Positivists Biological Theory

Positivists live by the assumption that human behavior is determined versus being a matter of free will (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Since their belief is on the cause-and-effect of relationships rather than the free-will to self-determine an active choice (Bohm &Vogel, 2011). Positivists biological theories and psychological theories are often hard to decipher since the two theories overlap (Hagan, 2017). Although it is clear that both biological and psychological factors play a role in criminal engagements and activities, understanding the difference between the two may present a challenge (Hagan, 2017). Positivists believe in adapting to the consensus worldview with no inequality and theorize that criminals are born, not made (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). They further focus on a criminal actor instead of the act itself (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Their approach to crime is conducted through the application of scientific method, discovery, and diagnosis of pathology and

In contrast, positivists biological theories offer alternatives to punishment, one of which includes treatment through medication or therapy (Essays, UK, 2013). Other alternatives included the fact that offenders could simply be looked away from society or deported for the remainder of their life (Essays, UK, 2013). In addition, when positivists biological theorist believed that an offender may possess a deviant gene that could pass down to further generations, the offender might be sterilized or executed, which resulted in ensuring no future deviance (Essays, UK, 2013). Historically, from this perspective, the cause of the crime was referred to as biological inferiority; however, more recent theories focus on biological factors including both genetic and environmental factors (Hagan,