As a sociologist what concerns would you have about the biological explanation of criminal behavior?

Answer 1

My main concerns with a strict biological explanation of criminal behavior is:

it will eventually lead to people not having to take responsibility for their actions. People will be able to say they couldn't stop themselves from committing certain acts so they shouldn't be held accountable for what they did.

It will eventually lead to a social/moral stagnancy. If there is no accountability, then there is no reason to try harder as individuals and as a species to become better than we currently are. There will be no positive corrective measures taken to become better people anymore.

As societies cease to continue pushing forward they inevitably start a "dumbing down" precess where the lowest common denominators rule.

Answer 2

For sociologists the concern is that biological explanations are deliberately used by their proponents to denigrate the need for social programs for people, and to discourage research into the economic roots of crime.

Since groups are not equally crime-committing, biological theories are also deliberately used to promote theories of racial (and other group) inferiority and superiority.

Answer 3

My main concern is that the biological explanation could be used for a "not guilty" verdict in court. "It wasn't my fault, it was my biology." There may be some science to back up this explanation; however, the public must still be protected from the predator.

Answer 4

Well there have been a lot of theories about mal adaptive behaviour in sociology. At one point it was thought body type affected one's moral development or different ' humours'.

I think the more we know about brain function or malfunction and how people interact with one another , their motivations etc. the more we'll understand criminality and deviant behaviour.

There are numerous factors affecting criminality other than biology of course, socioeconomic status , extreme poverty, lack of nutiriton, spheres of influence, whether or not there is a positive male role model in the family.