Citation

Fenimore DM, Jennings WG. J. Crim. Psychol. 2018; 8(4): 249-264.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Emerald Group Publishing)

DOI

10.1108/JCP-03-2018-0014

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to use data from the Longitudinal Study of Violent Criminal Behavior in the USA to examine case configurations of violent behavior using a biopsychosocial framework. Specifically, the theory posits that arguably all behavior is the result of specific combinations of biopsychological (individual) and sociocultural (environmental) characteristics that are interacting within the individual. With regard to criminal and violent behavior, the theoretical assumption is that this maladaptive behavior is the result of a negative interaction between the biopsychological and sociocultural factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study design consists of secondary data analysis. A conjunctive analysis of case configurations was performed using data from the Longitudinal Survey of Violent Criminal Behavior to formally explore the tenets of Cortés and Gatti's (1972) biopsychosocial theory.

Findings

The results suggest that there are main effects for ego strength, family problems, family incohesiveness and underachievement as they relate to offending. A possible six-way interaction was also identified within the case configurations that provides empirical support for Cortés and Gatti's (1972) biopsychosocial theory of deviance.

Originality/value

The present study contributes to the existing biopsychosocial literature by providing insight on the contextual variability in pathways to violent offending. Specifically, the evidence provided indicates that Cortés and Gatti's (1972) biopsychosocial theory of deviance can be extended to comparing violent and non-violent offenders. Implications for policy and practice are also discussed.

Keywords:
Risk factors, Violence, Violent offending, Biopsychosocial theory, Conjunctive analysis, Offender typologies
Type:
Research paper
Publisher:
Emerald Publishing Limited

Language: en

Keywords

Biopsychosocial theory; Conjunctive analysis; Offender typologies; Risk factors; Violence; Violent offending