In chapter four of the textbook Criminological Theory the Essentials by Stephen G. Tibbetts it discusses some criminological theories as to why some people commit crimes. Including Lombroso’s theory of crime (Tibbetts, 2012, p. 68), Binet’s IQ testing (Tibbetts, 2012, p. 73), and Sheldon’s body-type theory (Tibbetts, 2012, p. 76). Lombroso based his work on Darwin’s theories of evolution and idea of superior groups (Tibbetts, 2012, p. 68). Lombroso believed that some people were born atavism, which to him meant that people who commit crimes are not as evolved as those who do not commit crimes (Tibbetts, 2012, p. 69). He believed you could tell who is atavistic by certain visual characteristics such as big eyes, ear, and one toe being longer than another, basically any body part that does not fall within a normal range (Tibbetts, 2012, p. 72). Lombroso’s theory in
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Tibbetts focuses more on biological reasons for crime, such as family studies, twin studies, and chromosome factors. Twin studies in this chapter showed that monozygotic twins (fraternal twins) were more likely to have similar rates of crime even when separated at birth with different adoptive families (Tibbetts, 2012, p.87-90). I found this very interesting, I knew that nature and nurture both played roles but I always though nurture had more of an influence than nature. As far as chromosomal research they found that those who produced more male hormone (testosterone) were more likely to commit crime, while those who produce more female hormone (estrogen) were less likely to commit crimes (Tibbetts, 2012, p. 91). I did not find this one as surprising, I feel like many people understand more testosterone is correlated heavily to more aggression, which could be a factor in why people commit crime. These chapters made me think a lot more critically of nature vs. nurture and how nature might have more of an effect than I previously
Tibbetts focuses more on biological reasons for crime, such as family studies, twin studies, and chromosome factors. Twin studies in this chapter showed that monozygotic twins (fraternal twins) were more likely to have similar rates of crime even when separated at birth with different adoptive families (Tibbetts, 2012, p.87-90). I found this very interesting, I knew that nature and nurture both played roles but I always though nurture had more of an influence than nature. As far as chromosomal research they found that those who produced more male hormone (testosterone) were more likely to commit crime, while those who produce more female hormone (estrogen) were less likely to commit crimes (Tibbetts, 2012, p. 91). I did not find this one as surprising, I feel like many people understand more testosterone is correlated heavily to more aggression, which could be a factor in why people commit crime. These chapters made me think a lot more critically of nature vs. nurture and how nature might have more of an effect than I previously