Citation

Zaalberg A. J. Crim. Justice 2019; 65: e2018.10.001.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2018.10.001

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In theories on crime, the importance of historical, economical, so- ciological and psychosocial determinants is often emphasized. Some scholars (Eisner, 2001; Pinker, 2011) place the declining rates in violent offences over the last half millennium in the context of the civilization process that took place. Others stress the importance of family and neighborhood determinants in the shaping of self-control in children (Pratt, 2001; Pratt, Turner, & Piquero, 2004). In an analysis of 55 criminological textbooks, published between 1961 and 1996, Wright and Miller (1998) picture the status of non-sociological theories in criminology. They point at – what they call – a taboo on biological arguments, a restriction dating back to the thirties of the last century. They also note that restriction has been lifted gradually.
Much criminological research is dedicated to early risk factors of later criminal behavior, such as childhood aggression, antisocial be- havior and low intelligence (Moffit, 1993; Nagin & Tremblay, 1999; Yun & Lee, 2013). Notwithstanding the importance of psychological and sociological factors, in the last decades biological determinants of behavior, and the interaction between psychosocial and biological ...

Language: en