Jose Rizal University

College of Criminal Justice

MODULE IN CRI C108: Theories of Crime Causation

COURSE CODE: CRI C108

COURSE TITLE: Theories of Crime Causation
Course Credits: 3 Units
Contact Hours/week: 3 Hours
Pre-requisite: None

CHAPTER II
THEORIES AND CAUSES OF CRIME: Psychological/Psychiatric and Biological
Perspectives
Learning Objectives
At the end of this chapter, the students should be able to comply with the following:
1. Describe the concept of human behavior in relation to crime.
2. Identify the different psychological theories and causes of crime.
3. Identify the different biological theories and causes of crime.
4. Identify and describe the different causes of criminal behavior.
5. Internalize the different patterns of criminal behavior.

Teaching Methodology
1. Lecture
2. Discussion and Oral Recitation
3. Quizzes and Summative Evaluation
4. Group Workshops
5. Summary and Feedbacks

PRELIMINARY NOTE
One of the most interesting explanation on why coming crime exist and how do people
in to it are those from psychological and biological perspectives. Criminals adopt their
own behavioral patterns which was developed from their continuous criminal activities
However, motivations and instinctual drives play a vital role in understanding their
criminal behavior.
Basically, every individual wanted to live worthwhile. Each has desire to enjoy all the
privileges as human, On the other hand, people had been developed psychologically,
biologically and socially different from its primitive origin. Thus, individual's upbringing in
so many aspects differ from one another. The bottom line always anchored on how do
people are being satisfied in their own desire and motivations.
Psychological and biological explanations play an important role in tracing one's criminal
behavior and in understanding its motivations and instinctual drives why and how they
pursue on criminal activity. Thus, control and prevention may work better when it talks
about how to change people's mind set by incapacitating them to further their criminal
career. This chapter presents the psychological and biological perspectives to
emphasize why and how people turn to crime and trace back the origin of an individual's
motivation and criminal desires.
1. The Psychological and Psychiatric Perspective
In general, psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes. This means
that psychologists use the methods of science to investigate all kinds of behavior and
mental processes, from the activity of a single nerve cell to the social conflict in a
complex society.
In particular, Criminal Psychology is a sub- field of general psychology where criminal
behavior is only, in part by which phenomena psychologists choose to study. It may be
defined as the study of criminal behavior, the study of criminal conduct and activities in
an attempt to discover recurrent patterns and to formulate rules about his behavior.
A major description of criminal psychology is the word behavior. Behavior refers to
actions or activities (Kahayon, 1985). To the criminologist, behavior is the observable
actions because he is more interested in actions and reactions that can be seen and
verified than in concepts, which cannot be directly verified.
A. Nature of Human Behavior
Human Behavior is the reaction to facts of the relationship between an individual and
his or her environment. This means that, any forms of responses whether internal or
external which is brought about by how an individual react into the reality of his or her
situation in the environment are considered behavior. Examples are laughing, crying,
running, imagination etc.
B. Classification of Behavior
1. Normal Behavior (adaptive or adjusted behavior) the standard behavior,
the totality accepted behavior because they follow the standard norms of society.
Understanding criminal behavior includes the idea of knowing what character a
 normal person from an abnormal one. A normal person is characterized by:
Efficient perception of reality, Sell-knowledge, Ability to exercise voluntary control
over his behavior, Self-esteem and acceptance, Productivity, Ability to form
affectionate relationship with others.
2. Abnormal Behavior (maladaptive/maladjusted behavior) - A group of
behaviors that are deviant from social expectations because they go again, the
norms or standard behavior of society.
C. Kinds of Behavior
1. Overt or Covert Behavior - Behaviors that are outwardly manifested or those
that are directly observable are overt behaviors. On the other hand, covert
behavior are behaviors that are hidden - not visible to the naked eyes.
2. Conscious or Unconscious Behavior - Behavior is conscious when acts are
within the level of awareness. It is unconscious when acts are embedded in one's
subconscious - unaware.
3. Simple or Complex Behavior These are acts categorized according to the
number of neurons involved in the process of behaving Simple behavior involves
a smaller number of neurons while complex behavior involved a greater number
of neurons, a combination of simple behaviors.
4. Rational or Irrational Behavior There is rational behavior when a person
acted with sanity or reason and there is irrational behavior when the person
acted with no apparent reason or laugh out loud at nobody or nothing in
particular.
5.Voluntary or involuntary Behavior - Voluntary behavior is an act done with
full volition or will such as when we discriminate, decide or choose while
involuntary behaviors refer the bodily processes that foes on even when we are
awake or asleep like respiration, circulation and digestion.
D. Aspects of Behavior
1. Intellectual Aspect - this aspect of behavior pertains to our way of thinking,
reasoning, solving, problem, processing info and coping with the environment.
2. Emotional Aspect - this pertains to our feelings, moods, temper, and strong
motivational force.
3. Social Aspect-this pertains to how we interact or relate with other people.
4. Moral Aspect - this refers to our conscience and concept on what is good or
bad.
5. Psychosexual Aspect - this pertains to our being a man or a woman and the
expression of love.
 6. Political Aspect - this pertains to our ideology towards society/ government.
7. Value/Attitude - this pertains to our interest towards something, our likes and
dislikes
E. Determinants of Behavior
 Heredity (Biological Factors) - This refers to the genetic influences, those that
are explained by heredity, the characteristics of a person acquired from birth
transferred from one generation to another. It explains that certain emotional
aggression, our intelligence, ability and potentials and our physical appearance
are inherited. It is the primary basis of the that "criminals are born". It also
considers the idea concerning criminal behavior, the concept influences of
genetic defects and faulty genes, diseases, endocrine imbalances, malnutrition
and other physical deprivations that can be carried out from one generation to
another.
 Environmental factors (Socio-Cultural Influences) Family Background - it is
a basic consideration because it is in the family whereby an individual first
experiences how to relate and interact with another. The family is said to be the
cradle of personality development as a result of either a close or harmonious
relationship or a pathogenic family structure: the disturbed family, broken family,
separated or maladjusted relations.

Pathogenic Family Structure - those families associated with high frequency of

problems such as:
 The inadequate family - characterized by the inability to cope with the
ordinary problems of family living. It lacks the resources, physical or
psychological, for meeting the demands of family satisfaction.
 The anti-social family - those that espouses unacceptable values as a result
of the influence of parents to their children.
 The discordant/disturbed family- characterized by non- satisfaction of one
or both parent from the relationship that may express feeling of frustration.
This is usually due to value differences as common sources of conflict and
dissatisfaction.
 The disrupted family - characterized by incompleteness whether as a result
of death, divorce, separation or some other circumstances.
Childhood Trauma - the experiences, which affect the feeling of security of a
child undergoing developmental processes. The development processes are
being blocked sometimes by parental deprivation as a consequence of parents or
lack of adequate maturing at home because of parental rejection, overprotection,
restrictiveness, permissiveness, and faulty discipline.
Other Determinants of Behavior
 Needs and Drives - Need, according to a drive reduction theory, is a biological
requirement for well-being of the individual. This need creates drives - a
psychological state of arousal that prompts someone to take action. Drive
therefore is an aroused state that results from some biological needs. The
aroused condition motivates the person to remedy the need. For example, if you
have had no water for some time, the chemical balance of the body fluids is
disturbed, creating a biological need for water. The psychological consequence
of this need is a drive-thirst - that motivates you to find and drink water. In other
words, drives push people to satisfy needs.
 Motivation - Motivation on the other hand refers to the influences that govern the
initiation, direction, intensity, and persistence of behavior. Thus, motivation refers
to the causes and "why's” of behavior as required by a need. Motivation is the
hypothetical concept that stands for the underlying force impelling behavior and
giving its direction. Drives are states of comfortable tension that spur activity until
a goal is reached. Drive and motivation are covered in the world of psychology,
for they energize behavior and give direction to man's action. For example, a
motivated individual more effective that unmotivated one, thus is engaged in a
more active, more vigorous, and hungry person directs him to look for food.
 Psychological Needs - are influenced primarily by the kind of society in which the
individual is the individual happiness and well-being, but not raised.
Psychological motives are those related to for the survival, unlike the biological
motives that focuses on basic needs - the primary motives.
Abraham Maslow has suggested that human needs form a hierarchy from the most
basic biological requirements to the needs for self- actualization - the highest of all
needs. The pyramidal presentation shows that from the bottom to the top of the
hierarchy, the levels of needs or motive according to Maslow, are:
1. Biological or Physiological Needs - these motives include the need for food,
water, oxygen, activity, and sleep.
2. Safety Needs - these pertains to the motives of being cared for and being
secured such as in income and place to live.
3. Love/Belongingness - Belongingness is integration into various kinds of
social groups or social organizations. Love needs means need for affection.
4. Cognitive Needs - our motivation for learning and exploration
5. Esteem Needs - our motivation for an honest, fundamental respect for a
person as a useful and honorable human being.
6. Aesthetic Needs - our motivation for beauty and order.
 7. Self-actualization - pertains to human total satisfaction, when people are
motivated not so much by unmet needs, as by the desire to become all they are
capable of (self-realization).

Psychological Theories
Moral Anomalies - advocated by Raffaele Garofalo (1852-1934). He traced the
roots of criminal behavior not to physical features but to their psychological
equivalents.
Psychoanalytic Theory Sigmund Freud (1856- 1969) - explains that criminal
act from defective conscience, emotional immaturity, maternal deprivation,
inadequate childhood socialization and poor moral development.
Supernatural Theory - blame delinquency on demonic possession. People
believed criminals were possessed by the devil.
Rational Choice Theory - claimed that delinquents are rational people who
make calculated choices regarding what they are going to do before they act.
Behavioral Theory - criminal behavior is learned response that has been
strengthened because of the reinforcements it produces.
F. Frustrations, Conflict and Anxiety
Frustration refers to the unpleasant feelings that result from the blocking of motive
satisfaction. It is a form of stress, which results in tension. It is a feeling that is
experienced when something interferes with our hopes, wishes, plans and expectations.
Conflict refers to the simultaneous arousal of two or more incompatible motives
resulting to unpleasant emotions. It is a source of frustration because it is a threat to
normal behavior.
Types of Conflicts
1. Double Approach Conflict - a person is motivated to engage in two desirable
activities that cannot be pursued simultaneously.
2. Double Avoidance Conflict - a person faces undesirable situations in which
the avoidance one is the exposure to the other resulting to of intense emotion.
3.Approach-Avoidance Conflict – a person faces situation having both a
desirable and undesirable feature. It is sometimes called “dilemma”, because
some negative and some positive features must be accepted regardless which
course of action is chosen.
4. Multiple Approach Avoidance Conflict – a situation in which a choice must
be made between two or more alternatives each has both positive and negative
 features. It is the most difficult to resolve because the features of each portion
are often difficult to compare.
Anxiety is an intangible feeling that seems to evade any effort to resolve it. It is
also called neurotic fear. It could be intense, it could be low and can be a
motivating force (Coleman, 1980).
Stress is the process of adjusting to or dealing with circumstances that disrupts,
or threatens to disrupt a person's physical or psychological functioning (Bernstein,
et al, 1991).
G. The Ego Defense Mechanism
The Ego Defense Mechanisms - The defense mechanisms are the unconscious
techniques used to prevent a person's self-image from being damaged When stress
becomes quite strong, an individual strives to protect his self-esteem, avoiding defeat.
We all use ego defense mechanisms to protect us from anxiety and maintain our feeling
of personal worth. We consider them normal adjustive reactions when they are used to
excess and threaten self-integrity.
Example: Denial of Reality protection of oneself from unpleasant reality by refusal to
perceive or face it. Simply by avoiding something that is unpleasant.
Fantasy - the gratification of frustration desires in imaginary achievement. Paying
attention not to what is going on around him but rather to what is taking place in his
thoughts.
H. Causes of Criminal Behavior
1. Anxiety (Psychological Perspective) - stressful situations that when become
extreme may result to maladaptive behavior.
2. Faulty Learning (Behavior Perspective) - the failure to learn the necessary
adaptive behavior due to wrongful development. This usually results to
delinquent behavior based on the failure to learn the necessary social values and
norms.
3. Blocked of Distorted Personal Growth (Humanistic Perspective) -
presumably, human nature tends towards cooperation and constructive activities,
however, if we show aggression, cruelty or other violent behavior, the result will
be an unfavorable environment.
4. Unsatisfactory interpersonal relationship - self-concept in early childhood
by over critical parents or by rigid socialization measures usually causes deviant
behaviors among individuals because they are not contented and even unhappy
among individuals because they are not contented and even unhappy to the kind
of social dealings they are facing.
 5. Pathological social conditions – poverty, social, discrimination, and
destructive violence always results to deviant behavior.
I. Patterns of Criminal Behavior
A. Neurotic or Psychoneurotic Patterns - are groups of mild functional personality
disorders in which there is no gross personality disorganization, the individual does not
lose contact with reality, and hospitalization is not required
 Anxiety Disorders - anxiety disorders are commonly known as "neurotic fear".
When it is occasional but intense, it is called "panic". When it is mild but
continuous, it is called "worry” which is usually accompanied by physiological
symptoms such as sustained muscular tension, increased blood pressure,
insomnia, etc.
1. Obsessive-compulsive disorders - An obsessive- compulsive
disorder is characterized by the following: When an individual is compelled
to think about something that he does not want to think about or carry
some actions against his will, and the experience of persistent thoughts
that we cannot seem to get out of our minds such as thoughts about
haunting situations.
2. Asthenic Disorders (Neurasthenia) - An anxiety disorder
characterized by chronic mental and physical fatigue and various aches
and pains. Symptoms include spending too much sleep to avoid fatigue
but to no avail, even feel worse upon awake, headaches, indigestion, back
pains, and dizziness.
3. Phobic Disorders - These refer to the persistent Seal on some objects
or situation that present no actual danger to the person. Examples of
Phobia: Acrophobia - fear of high place.

 Somatoform Disorders - Complaints of bodily symptoms that suggest the

presence of physical problem but no organic basis can be found. The Individual
is pre occupied with his state of health or diseases

1. Hypochondriasis - This refers to the excessive concern about state of

health or physical condition (multiplicity about illness)

2. Psychogenic Pain Disorder. It is characterized by the report of severe

and lasting pain. Either no physical basis is apparent reaction greatly in
excess of what would be expected from the physical abnormality.

3. Conversion Disorders (Hysteria) - It is a neurotic pattern in which

symptoms of some physical malfunction or loss of control without any
underlying organic abnormality.
  Dissociative Disorders - A response to obvious stress characterized by
amnesia, multiple personality, and depersonalization.

1. Amnesia - The partial or total inability to recall or identify past

experiences following a traumatic incident. Brain pathology amnesia - total
loss of memory and it cannot be retrieved by simple means. It requires
long period of medication. Psychogenic amnesia failure to recall stored
information and still they are beneath the level of consciousness but
"forgotten material."

2. Multiple Personality - It is also called "dual personalities." The reason

manifests two or more symptoms of personality usually dramatically
different.

3. Depersonalization - The loss of sense of self or the so-called out of

body experience. There is a feeling of detachment from one's mental
processes or body or being in a dream state. Cases of somnambulism
(sleep walking) may fall under this often referred to as affective disorders
however the critical disorder.

 Mood Disorders (Affective Disorders)- often referred to as affective disorders

however the critical pathology in these disorders is one of mood which is the
internal state of a person, and not of affect, the external expression of emotional
content (Manual of Mental Disorder).

1. Depressive Disorders (Major Depressive Disorder) - Patients with

depressed mood have a loss of energy and interest, feeling of guilt,
difficulty in concentrating, loss of appetite, and thoughts of death or
suicide, they are not affected with manic episodes.

2. Dysthymic Disorder - a mild form of major depressive disorder

3. Bipolar Disorders - those experienced by patients with both manic and

depressive episodes.

4. Cyclothymic Disorder - a less severe form of bipolar disorder.

B. Psychopathic Patterns - are group of abnormal behaviors, which typically stemmed
from immature and distorted personality development, resulting in persistent
maladaptive ways of perceiving and thinking. They are generally called "personality of
character disorders. These groups of disorders are composed of the following:
 Personality Disorders - The disorders of character, the person is characterized
as a"problematic” without psychoses. This disorder is characterized aggressive
disrupted personal relationship, dependent or passive behavior.
1. Paranoid Personality Disorder-It is characterized by suspicious, rigidity,
envy, hypersensitivity, excessive self-importance, argumentativeness and
tendency to blame others of one's own mistakes.
2. Schizoid Personality Disorder This is characterized by the inability to form
social relationship and lack of interest in doing so. The person seems to express
their feelings, they lack social skills. They are the so-called "loners".
3. Schizotypal Personality Disorder - It is characterized by seclusiveness, over
sensitivity, avoidance of communication and superstitious thinking is common.
4. Histrionic Personality Disorder - It is characterized by immaturity. excitability,
emotional instability and self- dramatization.
5. Narcissistic Personality Disorder - It is characterized by an exaggerated
sense of self- importance and pre-occupation with receiving attention. The
person usually expects and demands special treatment from others and
disregarding the rights and feeling of others.
6. Borderline Personality Disorder - It is characterized by instability reflected in
drastic mood shifts and behavior problems. The person usually displays intense
anger outburst with little provocation and he is impulsive, unpredictable, and
periodically unstable.
7. Avoidant Personality Disorder-It is characterized by hypersensitivity to
rejection and apprehensive alertness to any sign of social derogation. Person is
reluctant to enter into social interaction.
8. Dependent Personality Disorder - It is characterized by extreme
dependence on other people - there is acute discomfort and even panic to be
alone. The person lacks confidence and feels helpless
9. Passive Aggressive Personality Disorder – it characterized by being hostile
expressed indirect and non-violent ways. They are so called “stubborn”.
10. Compulsive Personality Disorder- it is characterized by excessive concern
with rules order, and efficiency that everyone does things their way and an ability
to express warm feeling. The person is over conscientious, serious, and with
difficulty in doing things for relaxation.
11. Anti-social Personality Disorder – It is characterized by continuing
violation of the rights of others through aggressive, anti-social behavior without
remorse or loyalty to anyone.
C. Psychotic Patterns - are group of disorders involving gross structural defects in the
brain tissue, severe disorientation of the mind thus it involves loss of contact with reality.
 Organic Mental Disorders - A diagnosis of organic mental disorder is
associated with a specific, identified organic cause, such as abnormalities of the
brain structure. These are mental disorder that occurs when the normal brain has
been damage resulted from any interference of the functioning of the brain.

1. Acute brain disorder - caused by a diffuse impairment of the brain function.

Its symptoms range from mild mood changes to acute delirium.

2. Chronic brain disorder - the brain disorder that result from injuries, diseases,
drugs, and variety of other conditions. Its symptoms include impairment of
orientation (time, place and person) impairment of memory, learning,
comprehension and judgement, emotion and self-control.
Groups of Organic Mental Disorders
1. Delirium - the severe impairment of information processing in the brain
affecting the basic process of attention, perception, memory and thinking.
2. Dementia - deterioration in intellectual functioning after completing brain
maturation. The defect in the process of acquiring knowledge or skill, problem
solving, and judgement.
3. Amnestic Syndrome - the inability to remember on going events more than a
few minutes after they have taken place.
4. Hallucinosis - the persistent occurrence of hallucinations, the false perception
that arise in full wakefulness state. This includes hallucinations on visual and
hearing or both.
5. Organic Delusional Syndrome - the false belief arising in a setting of known
or suspected brain damage.
6. Organic Affective Syndrome - the extreme/ manic or depressive state with
the impairment of the cerebral function.
7. Organic Personality Syndrome - the general personality changes following
brain damage.
8. General Paresis - also called "dementia paralytica", a syphilitic infection of the
brain and involving impairment of the CNS.

 Disorders Involving Brain Tumor - A tumor is a new growth involving abnormal

enlargement of body tissue. Brain tumor can cause a variety of personality
 alterations, and it may lead to any neurotic behavior and consequently psychotic
behavior.

 Disorders Involving Head Injury - Injury to the head as a result of falls, blows
and accidents causing sensory and motor disorders.

 Mental retardation - Metal retardation is a mental disorder characterized by sub-

average general functioning existing concurrency with deficits in adaptive
behavior. It is a common mental disorder 1.0, difficulty in focusing attention and
deficiency before the age of 18. The person is suffering from on fast learning.

 Schizophrenia - refers to the group of psychotic disorders characterized by

gross distortions of realty, withdrawal of social interaction, disorganization and
fragmentation of perception, thoughts and emotion. It also refers to terms such
as "mental deterioration”, dementia praecox", or 'split mind".

 Paranoia- it is a psychosis characterized by a systemized delusional system. A

delusion is a firm belief opposed to reality but maintained in spite of strong
evidence to the contrary. It is also a psychosis characterized by delusion of
apprehension following a failure or frustration.

D. Addictive Behavioral Patterns - Psychoactive substance-use disorders such as

alcoholism affects millions of people. Addiction and psychological dependence on these
substances create disastrous personal and social problems (Bernstein, 1991).

E. Sexual Dysfunctional Patterns - Sexual deviations to the impairment to either the

desire for sexual gratification or in the ability to achieve it (Coleman 1980)

Those Affecting Males

1. Erectile Insufficiency (Impotency)- it is a sexual disorder characterized by

the inability to achieve or maintain erection for successful intercourse.
2. Premature Ejaculation - it is the unsatisfactory brief period of sexual
stimulation that results to the failure of the female partner to achieve satisfaction
3. Retarded Ejaculation - it is the inability to ejaculate during intercourse -
resulting to worry between partners.
Those Affecting Women
1. Arousal Insufficiency (Frigidity) - a sexual disorder characterized by partial'
or complete failure to attain the lubrication or swelling response of sexual
excitement by the female partner.
2. Orgasmic Dysfunction - a sexual disorder characterized by the difficulty in
achieving orgasm.
 3. Vaginismus - the involuntary spasm of the muscles at the entrance to the
vagina that prevent penetration of the male sex organ.
4. Dyspareunia - it is called painful coitus/painful sexual acts in women.

Sexual Behaviors leading to Sex Crimes

As to Sexual Reversals
 Homosexuality - it is a sexual behavior directed towards the same sex. It is also
called "lesbianism/ tribadism" for female relationship.

 Transvestism - refers to the achievement of sexual excitation by dressing as a

member of the opposite sex such a man who wears female apparel.

 Fetishism - sexual gratification is obtained by looking at some body parts,

underwear of the opposite sex or other objects associated with the opposite sex.

As to the choice of Partner

 Pedophilia - a sexual perversion where person has the compulsive desire to
have sexual intercourse with a child of either sex.
 Bestiality - the sexual gratification is attained by having sexual intercourse with
animals.

 Auto-sexual (self-gratification/masturbation) - it is also called "self-abuse",

sexual satisfaction is carried out without the cooperation of another.

 Gerontophilia - is a sexual desire with an elder person

 Necrophilia-an erotic desire or actual intercourse with a corpse.

 Incest - a sexual relation between person who, by reason of blood relationship

cannot legally marry.

As to Sexual Urge
 Satyriasis - an excessive (sexual urge) desire of men to have sexual intercourse

 Nymphomania- a strong sexual feeling of women with an excessive sexual urge.

As Mode of Sexual Expression
  Oralism - it is the use of mouth or the tongue as a way of sexual satisfaction.
a. Fellatio - male sex organ to the mouth of the women coupled with the act of
sucking that initiates orgasm.
b. Cunnilingus - sexual gratification is attained by licking the external female
genitalia.
C. Anilism (anillingus) - licking the anus of the sexual partner
 Sado Masochism (Algolagnia) - pain/cruelty for sexual gratification

 Sadism - achievement of sexual stimulation and gratification through the

infliction of physical pain on the sexual partner. It may also be associated with
animals or objects instead of human beings.

 Masochism - infliction of pain to oneself to achieve sexual pleasure.

As to Part of the Body

 Sodomy - is a sexual act through the anus of the sexual partner.

 Uranism - sexual gratification is attained through fingering, holding the breast of

licking parts of the body

 Frottage - the act of rubbing the sex organ against body parts of another person.

 Partailism - it refers to the sexual libido on any part of the body of a sexual
partner.

As to visual stimulus
 Voyeurism - the person is commonly called "the peeping Tom", an achievement
of sexual pleasures through clandestine peeping such as peeping to dressing
room, couples' room, toilets, etc. and frequently the person masturbate during the
peeping activity.

 Scoptophilia - the intentional act of watching people undress or during sexual

intimacies.
As to Number of Participants in the Sexual Act
 Triolism - three persons participate in sex orgy such as two women versus on
man or vice versa.
  Pluralism - group of persons in sexual orgies such as couple to couple sexual
relations. It is also called "sexual festival".
Other Sexual Abnormalities
 Exhibitionism - it is called “indecent exposure intentional exposure of genitals to
members of the opposite sex under inappropriate conditions.
 Coprolalia - the use of obscene language to achieve sexual satisfaction.

 Don Juanism - the act of seducing women as a career without permanency of

sexual partner or companion.

2. Biological Perspectives

A. Heredity (Nature)

Heredity is the process by which features and characteristics are passed on from
parents to children before they are born. Ex. physical, mental, emotional and moral
traits.

It begins at the moment of conception between egg and sperm cells. During fertilization
when the x-paired chromosomes meet the X-chromosomes of the mother the result is a
female offspring. When the Y chromosomes from the father meets the X chromosome
of the mother, the result is male offspring. A substance called DNA is found within the
genes which is the code of heredity.

The Inherited Traits

 Physical Traits - are traits inherited that are physical in nature. Ex, color and
shape of eyes, texture of hair, skin, shape of nose and face etc.

 Mental Traits - are those intelligence and special talents inherited. Ex musical
and artistic ability, intelligence and mathematical ability.

B. Biological Theories
Somatotyping - advocated by Ernest Kretschmer (1888-1964) which explains the
causes of criminal behaviors based on by physique to various psychotique patterns,
asthenic and athletics to schizophrenia.
TYPES OF PHYSIQUE
1. Asthenic - lean, slightly built, narrow shoulder
2. Athletic - medium to tall, strong, muscular, course bones
3. Pyknic - medium height, rounded figure, massive neck, broad face.
William Sheldon (1898-1977) - an influenced of Somatotype School of Criminology,
which related body built to behavior. Became popular in his own "Somatotyping
Theory" which maintains the belief of inheritance as the primary determinants of
behavior and physique is reliable indicator of personality.
Classification of Body Physique
1. Endomorphy have low specific gravity. Typically relax and comfortable
disposition.
2. Mesomorphy - athletic type, predominance of muscle bones and connective
tissue, normally heavy, tough and sting They are people who are routinely active
and aggressive, and they are the most likely to commit crime.
3. Ectomorphy - thin physique, flat chest, slender, poorly muscled. They tend to
look more fatigue and withdrawn.
Evolution Theory - of Charles Darwin claimed that humans, like animals are parasite.
Man is an organism having an animalistic behavior that is dependent on other animals
for survival. Thus, man kills and steal to survive.
Charles Goring's Theory - claimed that criminals are physically inferior to normal
individuals in the sense that criminals tend to be shorter and have less weight than non-
criminals.
Criminal Anthropometry - a proponent of Cesare Lombroso who was first to connect
crime to human evolution. Criminals are atavistic or throwbacks to an earlier, more
primitive stage of human development.
Phrenology - it comes from the Greek word “mind" and logos "knowledge". This theory
claims that to be able to determine character, personality traits and criminality on the
basis of the shape of the head.
c. Environment (Nurture)
All the circumstances, people, things and events. It includes the internal/prenatal period
and the external/postnatal period of child's development. Ex family, friends, school,
home and other agencies on interacts with.
Types of Gene-Environment Interaction
 Passive - type of interaction that is noticeable in the child rearing policies of the
parents and is influenced in part by the same genes that shape their offspring.
 Evocative - an interaction that focuses on the belief that some qualities of the
child's intelligence and personality that are shaped by heredity evoke obvious
responses from the environment.
  Active - an interaction that makes people to find experiences that would fit in well
with their intellects, motives and personalities that are influenced by heredity.

D. Human Development
Basic Concepts
 Human development - the continuous process of a varied changes through
life.
 Growth - a change in size and structure. The individual grows physically and
mentally. Hence, growth is quantitative.
 Development - a pattern of change that begins at conception and continues
throughout life span.
 Maturation - the unfolding of traits potentially present in the individual
because of his hereditary endowment. Learning - is a permanent change
brought about by experience, maturity and performance.
Maturation Principles (Cox 1970)
 Learning depends upon the biological basis well as the opportunity to practice.
 Chronological age and maturational age although related are no synonymous.
 Although overall maturational development is forward and continues, the parent
should expect plateaus and regression in the child's development
 The more biologically a child is, the easier for him to learn a given task.
 The usually gives signals indicating his maturational readiness for a given task.
 The child's maturational development progress from general to specific behavior.
 Training given after the maturation readiness may be less efficient.

Stages of Development
1. Pre-natal Stage - this stage is the time from conception to birth which consists
of 280 days or nine months gestation.
 Periods of Pre-natal Stage
 Zygote fertilization to the end of the second week.
 Embryo - from the second week to the second lunar month. In this period, all
structures and features start to function.
 Fetus- starts from end of the second lunar month of birth. By the end of the
eight months, the fetal baby is completely formed.
2. Infancy - covers the period from birth to the second week. This is the shortest
and the most dangerous period. The infant displays different reflexes like
papillary, gurgling, grasping etc.
 3. Babyhood - covers the period from 3 weeks of life to 2 years. Patterns of
behavior at this stage will determine the individual's adjustment in later years.
This is called the formative years. Skills are being developed during this period.
4. Childhood - covers from 2nd year to 10th or 12th years. This is called the
formative years. Skills are developed during the period.
5. Puberty - covers the latter part of childhood and early part of adolescence.
6. Adolescent - this period is from 13-19, the teen year of a person's life. The
adolescent is considered a young adult.
7. Adulthood - this stage begins from 19-40 years. The adult is considered a
responsible person. This is the longest stage of development.
8. Middle Age - this developmental period covers 40-60 years.
9. Old Age - this period begins in the sixties to senescence or end of life.

Aspects of Human Development

 Physical Development - As the flower unfolds according to its genetic
phenomena, so do with humans. The unfolding is a sequential experience which
every human being undergoes which is called maturation.
 Motor Development - Nature may influence motor development. But genes play
a major role too. Biological maturation including rapid development of the
cerebellum creates a readiness to learn to walk by the age of one year.
 Cognitive Development - all mental activities associated with thinking, knowing
and remembering schema - a concept that organizes and interprets information.
Theories of Human Development
 Social Learning Theory - the theory which explains that we learn social
behavior by observing imitating and by rewarded or punished.
 Gender Schema Theory - the theory which explains that children learn from
their cultures a concept of what it means to be male or female and that they
adjust their behavior accordingly.
Approaches towards Delinquency
 Biogenic Approach - This view gives explanation that law violations and
delinquency is a result of some physical defects. It advocates that youth
misconduct is a direct result of faulty biology and variation and delinquency
pattern to social
 Psychogenic Approach - This argues that the critical factors in delinquency are
personality problems, to which the misbehavior is presumed to be the response.
  Sociogenic Approach - Ascribes the distinction structures. The youth misdeed
may be attributed to their learning process cultured in on youth gangs,
stigmatizing contacts with governmental
and social control agencies and other similar variables.

Enhancement Activity/Outcome:

CHAPTER EVALUATION

PART I - DEFINITION: Define the following terms.

1. Human Behavior
2 Heredity
3. Childhood Trauma
4. Human Development
5. Personality Disorder

PART II - ENUMERATION: Enumerate the following:

1-5 : Patterns of Criminal Behavior
6 - 10 : Causes of Criminal Behavior
11-12 : The Inherited Traits
13 - 15 : Aspects of Human Development
17 – 20 : Maturation Principles

PART III - ESSAY: Discuss what is asked below.

1. Which is more influential to the development of criminal behavior - psychological or
biological? If both, how do they play differently?
2. Describe the difference between social learning and gender schema theories in
human development?
Assessment:

Prepare for Long Quiz and Recitations

References:

Crime Theories, Causes and Prevention, Wiseman’s Book Trading Inc, 2021, Prof. Christian G Domingo,
et. al.

Theories of Crime Causation , Wiseman’s Book Trading Inc,c2019

Badua;
Vito, Gennaro F. & Maahs, Jeffrey R.,Criminology :Theory, Research, and Policy 4th ed.,Jones and
Bartlett Learning, c2017

Siegel, Larry J., Criminology:Theories, patterns, and typologies,Cengage Learning, c2018 – 120893

Gaines-Miller, Crimnal Justice, Cengage Learning, c2017

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