Biological Positivism

Are Criminals Biologically Different from Non-criminals?

• Classical School– No

• Biological Perspective– Yes

The Birth of Positivist Science

• 1800s, optimism about science soars

• Scientific method applied to humans

Early Biological Positivism• “With mankind some of the worst

dispositions which occasionally without any assignable cause make their appearance in families, may perhaps be reversions to a savage state, from which we are not removed by many generations.”– Darwin 1871, p.137

Lombros’s Theory of Atavism

• In 1876, observed physical differences between criminals and non-criminals

• Conclusion:

Biological Positivism Today• Biosocial theories

Biochemical Theories

• Criminal behavior is influenced by– Diet, hormones, environmental contaminants

• Examples– Lead poisoning linked to aggression and low IQ– 1979 murder of Mayor Harvey Milk

• Twinkie defense, diminished capacity manslaughter rather than 1st deg murder

Biosocial Theory of Testosterone and Crime

• Booth and Osgood (1993) – High testosterone leads young children to

behave aggressively, which alienate others– This leads to fewer social bonds, which over

time, increase crime

• Conclusion

Ethical Concerns

Positivist Criminology Today

• Positivism dominates academic criminology

• Tenets of Positivism