Sociobiology Theory and Criminology
Criminology field has varying psychological and biological theories that explain the criminality and factors that predispose individuals to engaging in criminal behaviors. Biological theories consider criminal behavior as a product of biological abnormality or defect. The criminal cannot change their behaviors because of the variation of their biological traits, thereby, forcing them to act in a specific manner. However, biological theory is considered odd with the presence of psychological theories that try to explain the factors and reasons behind criminality. Unlike the earlier, psychological theories, consider criminality as a product of offenders due to defects of the mental functioning, adjustment to the environmental forces, and individual development (Baumeister & Vohs, 2007). Therefore, this essay analyzes the sociobiological theory that tries to explain the relationship between personality and criminality. The essay also analyzes the key elements that underpin the sociobiological theory and its philosophical basis.
Sociobiology refers to a theory that that uses evolutionary bases to create an understanding of the patterns of social behaviors that evolve through sexual selection and natural selection. Although the theory is considered to base its ideologies in the older scientific disciplines that include comparative psychology and ethology, it has grown to a distinct psychological theory that allows for the understanding of criminality. Sociobiological theory holds that genetic predispositions play a significant role in influencing behaviors such as preservation of individual offspring and territoriality that might breed undesired social behaviors such as criminality....
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