Eugenic Criminology

Genetics and behavior relations has been a controversial topic for several years, however, as time has passed so has the demand for proof or disproof of the relationship. One of the most important reasons for the need to define this relationship is to uncover the truths behind violent or delinquent behavior. Also, it is important that we can weed out people who make false claims that their genes are responsible for their actions in order for us to appropriately distribute penalties or treatment. Another reason is that if we do find truths to these claims we can find ways to treat these behaviors for better outcomes. Though many studies have been conducted to reveal associations, more research is yet to be done that explores all connections and detailed backgrounds of those involved in the studies. To begin validating our theories, we must use genotyping, which is the comparison of an individual’s genetic make-up through exploration of their DNA sequence then comparing it to the DNA sequence of another individual or a reference sample. Utilizing genotyping, we are able to view the alleles an individual inherited from their parents (slide 4).

Eugenics is defined, in some way or the other, as the process of reshaping the human race by determining the kinds of people who will be born. As such, there is much debate in the field of eugenics, with authors, like Philip Kitcher, who support laissez-faire or a minimalist approach of eugenics in which eugenic decision-making should be limited only to avoid neurological illnesses and in which parental free choice is valued. Gregory Stock’s essay, The Enhanced and Un-Enhanced, presents otherwise by supporting the position of maximalist eugenics, allowing individuals the full extent in the selection of genes. On the other hand, the film, Gattaca, raises major ethical problems by illustrating a dystopian society resulted by extensive

While studying eugenics, genetics plays a detrimental role in determining heredity. Genetics is the study and behavior of genes ("Genetics"). These genes are encoded pieces of information that comes from both parents, these genes are found on any of the 23 pairs chromosomes; these chromosomes that contain genes form the human genome. 22 chromosomes all contain the same genes although slight variations of alleles, alleles are alternate forms of genes, and the 23rd chromosome contains the information for the zygote's gender.

No one can be certain whether nature or nurture is the cause for criminal behavior. However, research has stated that it is more often an interaction between genes and the environment that predicts criminal behavior (Jones, 2005). Through a biological perspective, it is determined that criminal behavior is due to genetics and/or neurological conducts. It concludes that criminals are born due to their criminal traits being passed down through genetic or chromosomal mutation. Another explanation of criminal behavior within the biological perspective are the neurochemicals within our brains and body. There many regulated chemicals in the brain that determines thought process, perception and action. Like the arguments for genetic and chromosomal mutation, any abnormal anomalies or chemical imbalance can heavily impact behavior (Schram, 2018). This goes for any damages to some parts of the brain that controls emotions, reason and logic. Problems with the biological perspective are the following: 1. It provide little explanations for a small of minority of offenders with specific conditions (Levitt, 2013). 2. Disregard the effect of environmental influences and life experiences that also impact behavior. 3. Since criminality is based on biology, it is unchangeable, therefore, no one is to be blamed for their actions. Lastly, 4. Famous studies on biological factors of criminality (ex: the twin, family and adoption studies) maintained an intertwined relationship with social

The biological theories are essential to the criminal justice profession so that they won't assume that a person's genetic characteristics cause a person to commit a crime. However, there are born criminals and “these types of criminals are the most dangerous, and can be identified through his or her stigmata or identifying characteristics” (Akers, Sellers, See, & Kieser, 2013, p. 10). Biological theories are the bases for severe criminal behavior mostly found among people who are born with an innate impulse to commit a

Checking the genetics of a person can tell much about the person and who they are. Does where a person lives and the environment they are in constantly influence them to commit crime? Is it the genetic makeup of the person that makes a more probable chance for them to commit a crime? “Drilling into the skull of a young man he began to funnel a stream of sulfuric acid into the head of his unconscious victim to create a zombie to fulfill all of his fantasies. Dead within a day, he mummified the head of his victim placing it in the freezer beside the skulls of those who came before. Dismembering the remnants of the body he placed skin, blood, and bone into a fifty-gallon vat of acid dissolving what was left of the young man”(Center Crisis Management). Jeffrey Dahmer one of the most notorious serial killer did not murder for financial gain, rage, or vengeance, he murdered to feed a desire. Could Dahmer’s DNA be the reason for his impulses to kill? Many theories criticize the biological perspective, but the studies of those who commit murder suggest the biological theory could be accurate.

When looking at criminal activity and the direct connection to the criminal behavior we see that there have been many research trials that have taken place over the history of humankind (Mishra & Lalumiere, 2008). Two of these research areas that have been developed to attempt to understand the causes of criminal behavior are known as biological and psychological perspectives of crime causation. These two sectors have their principles that are held in their theories as a standard scientific understanding of the basics that each evaluation of criminal behavior is built on (Dretske, 2004).

The theory of Eugenics can be dated back all the way to 400 B.C. but was not popularized until the mid-1800s by an English scientist, Francis Galton. He researched and published the theory that aimed to improve the genetic quality of the human population through selective breeding (NC Office of Archives and History). As the half-cousin of Charles Darwin, Galton applied the Darwinism science (survival of the fittest) to heredity characteristics. Two types of Eugenics stemmed from the theory, positive and negative. Positive eugenics is encouraging the “best” people in the society based on financial and personal features to have more children while negative eugenics is picking people with flaws and defects from the population

Genetic influences on behavior can affect the criminal justice system. If a person is convicted of a crime with a mental disorder they have diminished responsibility for the crime and may not be held accountable because of their behavior and since this is the case should then genes affecting your behavior be treated the same way(“Genetics and Human Behaviour: The Ethical Context”).

However, while the overstimulation of the Id and the failure to acquire and develop the the Ego and SuperEgo leads to criminal tendencies, while aggression may be out of adaptive values, and while genetic studies have pointed towards the influence of genes and criminal behaviour, these theories alone are insufficient to account for crime. Evolutionary theory does not explain or predict for the extreme degrees of aggression in individuals nor has the genetic theory proven for 100% heritability; which raises the need for us to examine the Nurture camp of crime theories as well.

Born Criminal? A theory that the genetic composition of a human individual increases their likelihood of committing violent crimes. Does the “XYY chromosome theory” exist, a genetic syndrome that causes violent crime? There are many different arguments about what really causes violent crime. Crime is defined as an action or omission that constitutes an offense that may be prosecuted by the state and is punishable by law (Oxford 2017). On one side, people believe that crime originates from an individuals upbringing in society and that environmental factors, such as family, school, church and community, are paramount in the development of behaviour patterns. Others propose that criminal behaviour is more advanced and comprises of an individuals different genetic disorders as genes alter and get passed on to each descendant, showing that some people are predisposed to criminality and that they are of a different species as humans. Are people born into a crime lifestyle or do they really have no choice at all? This research paper will present and argue how crime behaviours can be developed through the different social events occurring in an individual’s life but most criminals are formed by their genetic composition. To begin, Theorist Cesare Lombroso and the born criminal theory will be briefly used with his theory that criminals have certain physiognomic features or abnormalities. This paper will then touch on Franz Joseph Gall in the same field of study as Cesare Lombroso.

The first theory to be explored is the hereditary theory, which stems from Cesar Lombroso (1876) father of criminology, (Feldman, 1993) whose studies were carried out by morphology. Lombroso tried to show a relationship between criminal behavior and physical characteristics. Lombrosco suggested that an individual was predisposed to becoming a criminal, as a result of internal or innate characteristics, rather than environmental factors.

The research findings of Herrnstein & Wilson are not only conclusive to the claims of Lombroso, but also correlate with Sheldon's (1949) declaration of somatotypes relating to criminality. In an attempt to authenticate the notion of hereditary criminal predisposition, Lange's (1931) study of twins concluded identical twins share innate criminal tendencies, however; the results were less conclusive with fraternal twins; whereby evidencing the possibility of hereditary criminality.

Eugenics, a commonly acceptable means if protecting society from the off spring of individuals deemed inferior or dangerous, sought to improve the quality of human genetic qualities (Ko, 2016). The poor, disabled, mentally ill, criminals and people of color were all considered inferior or dangerous. The thought behind eugenics was to prevent persons with undesirable traits to reproduce and allow the possibility of their undesirable genetics to be passed on to their offspring. The 1927 U.S. Supreme Court Case Buck v. Bell was based on a poor white woman, Carrie Buck, who was the first person to be sterilized in Virginia, under the Virginia Eugenical Sterilization Act, signed into act in 1924 (Ko, 2016). Eugenics relates to the modern biological theories of criminality. Biosocial criminology sees the interaction between biological and the physical and social environments as key to understanding human behavior (Schmalleger, 2016). The perspective of biosocial criminology theory includes: genetics, heritability, hormones and brain dysfunction (Schmalleger, 2016).

Genetics is a branch of biological science that focuses on the study of genes and inheritance from parent to offspring. Genes are found in chromosomes embedded in a cell’s nucleus and carry the traits that a person will have. We inherit our traits from our parents through sexual reproduction, when two gametes, a sperm from the father and an ovum from the mother, combine and produce a zygote. Gametes form through meiosis, which results in each gamete having 23 chromosomes. This results in the zygote having 46 chromosomes, which combine and result in the genetic make up of the offspring. Genes can be described as a set of instructions for the body to follow during fetal development and for the rest of its life.