Criminological Theories

Biological Theories

Terms

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). Mednick’s theory that individuals who inherit a slower than normal autonomic nervous system learn to control aggressive or antisocial behavior slowly or not at all. This leads to increased violence and criminal activity.
Behavioral Genetics. This covers a range of theories in which a combination of genetics and the environment influence behavior.
Biological School. A view of crime, also referred to as biological positivism, that claims that criminal behavior is the result of biological or inborn defects or abnormalities. This view directly conflicts with classical criminology, which claims that criminal activity is the result of free will....
Biosocial Arousal Theory. This theory states that an individual’s level of arousal works in conjunction with the social environment. Those with low levels of arousal are less likely to learn appropriate ways to deal with aggression and violence and thus are more prone to commit crime.
Born Criminal. One of three criminal types identified by Lombroso. This type of criminal is the most dangerous, and can be identified through their stigmata or identifying characteristics.