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  • Essay / Essay on Biological Theories of Criminology - 726

    Before we can begin to talk about what the “biological theories” of criminology are, we must first understand what the earliest understandings of crime were. Early theories tended to focus on supernatural or religious causes, and this is where ideas of witches and witchcraft came into play (e.g. the Salem witch trials), which it seems today even ridiculous to believe in it. However, most criminal cases focused on the fact that these criminals were possessed, rather than committing the crime through rational choice, and this is where unconventional treatments were implemented, to say the least, such as exorcism, cremation or trepanation (that is, making a hole in the deviant's skull to release evil spirits from their body... I wonder how that worked?). This explanation quickly fell out of favor within the community when individuals (e.g. Lombroso and HH Goddard) began to come up with more conclusive explanations and then explained that it was the individual's fault, but not necessarily their fault. choice ; they used the descriptions of phrenology/physiognomy (which were based on Darwin's theory of evolution) and the culture debate, which debates whether a person is predisposed due to their DNA makeup, or if it is a blank slate and is affected by life experiences and environment. it creates who they will be and will adapt as they see fit. Scientists have determined that the presence of biological abnormalities will increase the likelihood that an individual will commit criminal acts, but it will not force them to be one (it certainly won't make them a criminal), which tends to do individuals who oppose biological theories. argue. Another argument is that biological factors will increase possible criminal behavior when other social/mental factors are also present, which is what other factions of the theories tend to suggest..