Crime and violence: The biological behind murder

Summary

In this interview, Professor Adrien explores the biological factors contributing to crime and violence, as detailed in his book 'Anatomy of Violence.' He discusses the importance of considering both social and biological aspects, including genetic predispositions, environmental influences like maternal alcohol and smoking during pregnancy, and brain structure differences. The conversation highlights how lower resting heart rates, higher testosterone levels, and variations in the prefrontal cortex can influence violent tendencies, particularly in men who commit the majority of homicides.

Takeaways

• 📚 The book 'Anatomy of Violence' explores the biological basis of crime, suggesting that alongside social factors, there is a significant biological component.
• 🧬 The author discusses the existence of genes that predispose individuals to violent criminal behavior, although there is no single 'killer gene'.
• 🤔 Twin studies are mentioned as evidence that approximately 50% of the variation in crime and antisocial behavior can be attributed to genetic factors.
• 🚫 Environmental factors are still crucial, but the author emphasizes the need to consider biological factors such as resting heart rate, maternal health during pregnancy, and hormone levels.
• 🧠 Brain imaging studies are highlighted, particularly focusing on the prefrontal cortex's role in regulating and controlling behavior.
• 🚦 The prefrontal cortex is compared to a car's brakes, suggesting that damage or poor function can lead to uncontrollable behavior.
• 🚹 A significant difference in violent tendencies between men and women is noted, with men committing 90% of homicides.
• 💓 Men's lower resting heart rates, higher testosterone levels, and differences in the orbital frontal cortex are suggested as biological reasons for higher rates of male violence.
• 🧐 The author points out that while socialization plays a role in gender differences in crime, biological factors also significantly contribute to these disparities.
• 👶 The influence of early life factors, such as maternal alcohol and smoking during pregnancy, on the developing fetal brain is discussed as a potential contributor to future violent behavior.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Professor Adrien's book, 'Anatomy of Violence'?

The book focuses on the growing body of knowledge that documents a biological basis for crime, suggesting that both social and biological factors contribute to violence and crime.

Why is it important to consider both social and biological factors in understanding crime?

Considering both factors is crucial because it provides a more comprehensive understanding of crime, allowing for more effective prevention strategies that address both environmental and genetic predispositions.

What does Professor Adrien mean by saying there's not exactly a 'killer gene'?

He means that there isn't a single gene that directly causes violence, but rather certain genes can predispose individuals to violent behavior by increasing the odds.

How much of the cause of crime and antisocial behavior can be attributed to genes according to twin studies mentioned by Professor Adrien?

According to the twin studies, 50% of the cause of crime and antisocial behavior can be attributed to genes.

What are some of the biological factors that can contribute to violent behavior?

Biological factors include a low resting heart rate, health factors like maternal alcohol and smoking during pregnancy, high testosterone levels, and abnormalities in brain regions like the prefrontal cortex.

How does the prefrontal cortex play a role in regulating behavior?

The prefrontal cortex is involved in controlling and regulating behavior, particularly impulsive actions. Damage or poor functioning in this area can lead to a lack of control, similar to broken brakes on a car.

Why are men more likely to commit violent crimes according to the script?

Men are more likely to commit violent crimes due to factors such as lower resting heart rates, higher testosterone levels, and a generally reduced volume in the orbital frontal cortex, which is associated with emotion regulation and impulse control.

What is the role of the orbital frontal cortex in relation to violent tendencies?

The orbital frontal cortex is involved in emotion regulation and impulse control. A reduction in this part of the brain is linked to psychopathic and violent behavior, and it is generally smaller in men compared to women.

How does socialization contribute to the gender difference in crime rates?

Socialization plays a role in reinforcing gender differences in crime rates by influencing behaviors and expectations from an early age, such as giving girls dolls and boys toy guns, which can shape their behaviors and attitudes towards aggression.

What message does Professor Adrien want to convey about the relationship between biology and social factors in crime?

Professor Adrien emphasizes that while social factors are important, biological factors also play a significant role in crime and violence, and understanding this can help in developing more effective strategies to address these issues.

Outlines

00:00

🧬 Biological Basis of Crime and Violence

Professor Adrien Trebucq, author of 'The Anatomy of Violence,' discusses the growing body of knowledge that documents a biological basis for crime. He emphasizes the importance of looking at both social and biological factors to understand and address crime and violence. Trebucq explains that while there is no single 'killer gene,' there are genetic predispositions that can increase the likelihood of someone becoming a violent criminal. He cites twin studies that suggest 50% of the variation in crime and antisocial behavior can be attributed to genes. Biological factors contributing to crime include low resting heart rates, maternal alcohol and smoking during pregnancy, high testosterone levels, and abnormalities in brain imaging, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for controlling impulsive behavior.

Keywords

💡Anatomy of Violence

The title 'Anatomy of Violence' refers to the detailed examination of the factors that contribute to violent behavior. It suggests a comprehensive approach to understanding violence, much like one would dissect a body to understand its anatomy. In the context of the video, it relates to the exploration of both social and biological factors that lead to crime and violence, indicating that just as a body has physical components, violence has multiple underlying causes that need to be examined.

💡Biological Basis

The 'biological basis' of crime refers to the idea that there are inherent, physiological factors that can predispose individuals to criminal or violent behavior. The video discusses this concept by highlighting how certain genetic factors, resting heart rate, and hormone levels such as testosterone can influence the likelihood of someone becoming violent. This challenges the traditional focus on social factors alone by introducing the notion that biology plays a significant role in understanding violence.

💡Crime

Crime, as mentioned in the video, is an act that poses a threat to the welfare, property, or safety of others and is prohibited or regulated by law. The discussion around crime in the script is not just about the act itself but also about the underlying causes that lead to such behavior, including biological predispositions and environmental factors.

💡Violence

Violence in the script is defined as the use of physical force to harm, damage, or kill someone or something. The video aims to dissect the roots of violence, exploring how it's not just a social issue but also has deep biological connections. It's used as an umbrella term to cover various forms of aggressive behavior that can be influenced by a range of factors from genetics to brain function.

💡Genetics

Genetics in this context refers to the study of genes and their role in determining certain traits, including the predisposition towards violent behavior. The video mentions that there isn't a single 'killer gene,' but there are genes that can increase the risk of someone becoming a violent offender. This is part of the biological side of the equation that the author is urging society to consider.

💡Twin Studies

Twin studies are research methodologies that compare identical twins (who share the same genetic material) with fraternal twins (who do not) to understand the influence of genetics versus environment on various traits. The video references twin studies as a way to document the genetic contribution to crime, suggesting that about 50% of the variance in antisocial behavior can be attributed to genetic factors.

💡Resting Heart Rate

Resting heart rate is mentioned as one of the biological factors associated with a propensity for violence. A lower resting heart rate is indicated as a risk factor for crime and violence, suggesting that physiological markers can be predictive of aggressive tendencies. This is an example of how the video links specific biological indicators to social issues.

💡Testosterone

Testosterone is described in the video as a male hormone that is partly related to aggressive behavior. It is highlighted as a biological factor that can contribute to violent tendencies, especially in men, who generally have higher levels of testosterone compared to women. This hormone is part of the discussion on why men are more likely to commit violent crimes.

💡Prefrontal Cortex

The prefrontal cortex is a part of the brain that plays a crucial role in regulating and controlling behavior, including impulsive actions. The video suggests that a poorly functioning prefrontal cortex can be akin to broken brakes on a car, leading to a loss of control over one's actions. It is implied that damage or reduced functionality in this area of the brain can be linked to violent behavior.

💡Gender Difference

Gender difference in the context of the video refers to the disparity in violent crime rates between men and women, with men committing the majority of homicides. The script explores both social and biological reasons for this disparity, including differences in resting heart rates, testosterone levels, and the physical attributes of the orbital frontal cortex, which is associated with emotion regulation and impulse control.

Highlights

The book 'Anatomy of Violence' explores the biological basis of crime, complementing the social factors traditionally examined.

Biological factors are as important as social ones in understanding crime and violence.

There is no single 'killer gene', but certain genes can predispose individuals to violent behavior.

Twin studies suggest that 50% of the cause of crime can be attributed to genetic factors.

Environmental factors such as maternal alcohol and smoking during pregnancy can impact fetal brain development.

High testosterone levels are linked to aggressive behavior.

Brain imaging studies show that the prefrontal cortex, responsible for controlling behavior, is often damaged or underperforming in violent criminals.

Men commit 90% of homicides, possibly due to lower resting heart rates and higher testosterone levels.

The orbital frontal cortex, which regulates emotions and impulses, is generally smaller in men compared to women.

A reduction in the orbital frontal cortex volume is associated with psychopathic and violent tendencies.

Gender differences in crime rates can be partially explained by biological factors, not just socialization.

Socialization practices may reinforce gender differences in crime, such as giving boys toy guns and girls dolls.

The book emphasizes the importance of considering both biological and social factors to address crime and violence.

Transcripts

so we are here with uh Professor Adrien

rain uh an author of the anatomy of

violence thank you for joining us uh the

first question that I had is the title

of your book anatomy of violence can you

kind of explain what's behind the title

it's I'm really looking at the body of

knowledge the growing body of knowledge

that is increasingly documenting a

biological basis to Crime so you know

for the past 100 years we've put the

finger on poverty bad neighborhoods of

course that's important but in addition

there's a biological side of the

equation it's a bit like a coin it's got

two sides we've been looking at the

social side all the time we now need to

turn The Coin around and look at the

biological causes of crime and violence

Because unless we do that we'll never

stop the rot we'll never stop violence

and crime in society so what are the

biological components is there such a

thing as a killer Gene there's not

exactly a killer Gene but there are gen

which predispose or raise the odds that

someone will become a violent criminal

offender we've been doing twin studies

documenting that 50% of the variant 50%

of the cause of crime antisocial

Behavior can be chalked up to genes now

that means the environment is still very

very important but again there are

biological factors and they range from a

low resting heart rate to health factors

like the mother taking

alcohol and smoking during pregnancy

which damages the early fetal brain

going up to things like high

testosterone levels the male uh

aggression hormone um and then going

into brain Imaging we've been looking at

the prefrontal cortex the very frontal

part of the brain that's involved in

regulating controlling Behavior you know

um holding back on our impulsive

behavior and that's damaged or

functioning more poorly in murderers bit

like the brakes are broken on a car when

that happens you know the car gets out

of control so so can people too if this

frontal part of the brain is just not

working too well do you notice a

difference between the violent

tendencies of men versus women certainly

we know that you know 90% of all

homicides are committed by men now why

is that there's a couple of interesting

reasons first of all men have lower

resting heart rates relative to women

that's one of the risk factors for crime

and violence secondly of course men have

higher testosterone levels that hormone

and we also know from many studies that

testosterone is partly related to

aggressive behavior thirdly the very

orbital frontal cortex the part sitting

above your eyes lying behind your

forehead we find that to be reduced in

Men In general compared to women this is

the part of the the brain that's

involved in Emotion regulation involved

in checking on our impulses and we know

that people with a reduction in the

volume physically in that part of the

brain are more likely to be Psychopathic

criminal violent offenders whether

you're a man or a woman so a woman with

a reduction in that part of the brain is

more likely to be criminal that's true

in men but men in general are lower than

women and if you take that into account

that can explain 50% of the reason for

why men are more violent and criminal so

you know one of the messages in anatomy

of violence is that of course

socialization factors can inart

determine the gender difference in crime

you know we give little girls dolls and

we give little boys toy guns well I'm

not saying that that's wrong but what I

am saying is that in addition to that

there are these other biological factors

that can explain the gender difference

in crime and violence