Trait theory

TRAIT THEORY

DEVELOPMENT OF TRAIT THEORY

Crime is a function of internal forces such as chemical,neurological, genetic, personality, intelligence, or mentaltraits.

Focus on individual and give many reasons of crime.

The view that criminal have physical or mental traits (borncriminals) that make them different originated with the Italianphysician and criminologist Cesare Lombroso.

In the early 1970s, spurred by the publication of“Sociobiology”, the new synthesis, by Edmund O. Wilson,biological explanation of crime once again emerged.

Trait theories today recognize crime-producing interactions thatinvolve both personal traits and environmental factors.

CNTEMPORARY TRAIT THEORY

Each offender considered physically unique. So, there

must be unique explanation for each criminal.

Some may have inherited criminal tendencies

Other may be suffering from neurological problems, blood

chemistry disorder, that height there anti social behavior.

Bernard Rim-land concur that what may appear to some as

the effect of environment and socialization may be

actually linked to genetically determined physical or

mental trait.

Biosocial perspective of criminology

TRAIT THEORIES OF CRIME

BIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF CRIME

1. Biochemical theory of crime

2. Neurological theory of crime

3. Genetic theory of crime

4. Evolutionary theory of crime

PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES OF CRIME

1. Psychodynamic perspective

2. Behavioral perspective/social learning theory

3. Cognitive perspective


Focus on biological human conditions that controlhuman behavior .

Theory tells about :

Biochemical behavior factors that are believed to affecthow proper behavior pattern are learned. That weconsidered the relationship between brain function andcrime.

Association between genetic factor and crime.

Evolutionary view of crime causation.


1- Biochemical conditions and crime

Some biochemical conditions (genetically predetermine andacquired through diet and environment) influence antisocialbehavior.

Biochemical makeup and antisocial behavior is indirect:chemical and mineral imbalancement leads to perceptual andintellectual defect and problems, which may eventuallygenerate antisocial behavior.

Researcher discover that blood mercury levels of childrendiagnosed with ADHD(attention deficit/hyperactivitydisordered significantly higher then other population,indicating a clear association between an environmentalpollutants and behavior disorder.


Diet:

Improper diet can cause chemical and mineral imbalance andcan lead to cognitive and learning deficits and problems.

Research shows that undersupply of chemicals(sodium,mercury, potassium, calcium, amino acid, and iron) can lead todepression, hyperactivity, cognitive problems, memory lose orabnormal sexual activity.

People whose diet lack of polyunsaturated fats, minerals,vitamins and too much saturated fats seem to be at higher riskof developing psychological disturbance, such asschizophrenia, that directly related to anti social behavior.

Kids with faulty diet tend to be starved for attention that mayled to school failure.


Hypoglycemia:

A condition that occurs when glucose (sugar) in blood

falls below levels necessary to normal and efficient brain

functioning.

Symptoms include irritability, anxiety, depression, crying

spells, headaches and confusion.

Hypoglycemia outbursts of antisocial behavior and

violence.


Hormonal influence

1. Androgen:

Male sex hormones.

Aggressive behavior, sensation seeking, impulsivity, dominance,

and reduced verbal skills are androgen related male traits.

Hormonal change also related to mood and behavior.

Adolescence experience more intense mood swings, anxiety, and

restlessness then their elders, explaining in part the high violence

rates found among teenage males.

2. Testosterone:

High level of testosterone is directly related to aggression in

both male and female.


Environmental containment:

Prenatal exposure to PCBs(polychlorinated biphenyls)to lower IQs and attention problem.

Both considered risk factors for serious behavioral andlearning problem.

Air pollution create cognitive deficits and change thebrain structure of healthy children's, that associatedwith school failure, educational underachievement andadult criminality.


2- NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND CRIME

Inherited or acquired neurological and physicalabnormalities control behavior throughout life span.

Both violent and criminals and substance abusers haveimpairment in the prefrontal lobes, thalamus, medialtemporal lob, and superior parietal and left angulargyrus area of the brain.

There is suspected link between brain dysfunction andconduct disorder(a pattern of repetitive behavior inwhich the right of other or social norms violated.


Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD)

Lack of attention Frequently fails to finish projects Dose seem to pay attention Does not sustain interest in play activities Cannot sustain concentration on schoolwork or related tasks

Impulsivity Frequently act without thinking Often call out in class Does not want to wait his or her turn in lines or games Shift from activity to activity Cannot organize task or work Requires constant supervision.

Hyperactivity Constantly run around and climbs on things Shows excessive motor activity while asleep Cannot sit still: is constantly fidgeting Does not remain in his or her seat in class Is constantly on the go like a motor.


3- GENETICS AND CRIME

Parental deviance:

Anti-social behavior is inherited

The genetic make-up of parents is passed on to children

The genetic abnormality is linked to variety of antisocialbehavior.

Cambridge youth study says number of delinquentyouth have criminal fathers.

Number of studies found that parental criminality anddeviance do, in fact, power fully influence delinquentbehavior.


Adoption studies:

Several studies indicates that relationship between the behavior of biological parent and their children remain even if they are not in contact.

when both biological and adoptive father are criminal, the children would engage in criminal behavior.


Twin behavior:

Studies conducted on twin behavior have detected asignificant relationship between the criminal activities ofMZ and a much lower association between those of DZtwins: MZ twin has higher risk of suicidal behavior then DZ twins. The score of MZ twins are more similar than DZ twins on

tests measuring psychological dysfunctions such as conductdisorders, impulsivity and antisocial behavior.

MZ twins are closer than DZ twins in such crime measures asa level of aggression and antisocial behavior.

Both member of MZ twins pairs who suffer child abuse arelikely to engage in later antisocial activity more often than DZpairs.


4- EVOLUTIONARY VIEW OF CRIME The competition of scarce resources has influenced and

shaped the human species. Behavior patterns are inherited, impulsive behavior

become intergenerational, passed down from parents to children.

Evolutionary concept have been linked in gender differences in violence rate are based loosely on mammalian mating patterns.

To ensure the survival of gene pool, it is beneficial for a male to mate with any female as possible to bear his offspring.

Over the history of human being aggressive males have greatest impact on the gene pool.

PSCHOLOGICAL THEORIES OF CRIME

1. Psychodynamic model

The development of the unconscious personality early in childhood

influences behavior for the rest of person’s life.

criminals have weak egos and damaged personality.

2. Behavioral theories

People commit crime when they model their behavior after others

they see being rewarded for the same act.

Behavior is reinforced by rewards and extinguished by punishment.

3. Cognitive theory

Individual reasoning processes influence behavior.

Reasoning is influenced by the way people perceive their

environment.


1- PSYCHODYNAMIC MODEL OF CRIME Sigmund Freud(1856-1939)

Human body has three part structure.1. Id

The primitive part of people mental make up, present at birth, thatrepresent unconscious biological drives for food, sex and other lifesustaining necessities.

The id seeks instant gratification with concern for right of others.

2. Ego The part of personality develops in early childhood that helps

control the Id and keep peoples actions within the boundaries ofsocial conventions.

3. Super Ego Incorporation within the personality of the moral standards and

value of parents, community and significant others.


The psychodynamic tradition links crime to a manifestation of feelings of oppression and the inability to develop the proper psychological defenses and rationales to keep these feeling in control.

Attachment theory:

John Bowlby

The ability to form an emotional bond to another person has important psychological implications that follow people across the life span.


2- THE BEHAVIORAL PERSPACTIVE: SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY

Behavioral perspective:

Human action developed through learning experiences.

People alter their behavior in accordance with the response it elicits from other(supported by reward and extinguished by negative reaction).

Social learning theory:

People learn to be aggressive by observing others acting aggressively to achieve some goal or to being rewarded on violent act.

Watching violent TV shows makes kids behave more violently.

The evidence shows little association between viewing violent media and acting an antisocial ways.


3- COGNITIVE THEORY

Psychological perspective that focus on the mental processes by which people perceive represent the world around them and solve problems.

Criminal behavior patterns change over time as people mature and develop their reasoning powers.

Crime-prone people may have cognitive deficits and use information incorrectly when they make decisions

They view crime as an appropriate means to satisfy their immediate personal needs

Trait theory

Law

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