What are the causes of crime? | Tom Klidzia | University of Kent

Summary

In this video, Tom Kledger explores the ongoing nature versus nurture debate in psychology, focusing on criminal behavior. He discusses how both genetic factors, like the MAOA gene, and environmental influences, such as family background and early childhood experiences, contribute to criminal tendencies. Drawing on theories from psychologists like Eysenck, Sutherland, and Bowlby, he emphasizes the interaction between nature and nurture in shaping personality and criminality. Kledger concludes that understanding these factors can help us better address criminal behavior through rehabilitation and prevention, highlighting the complexity of human behavior and its implications for the justice system.

Takeaways

• 😀 The debate between Nature and Nurture is central in psychology, especially when determining the causes of human behavior.
• 😀 Personality traits like extroversion and introversion could have biological roots, with nervous system activity playing a role.
• 😀 Criminal behavior may be linked to personality traits, such as aggression, lack of emotion, and instability (psychoticism, neuroticism, and extroversion).
• 😀 Nature and nurture both interact to shape behavior, with genetics influencing tendencies, and socialization affecting development.
• 😀 The MAOA gene, also known as the 'warrior gene,' is linked to higher aggression, and some studies suggest it could predispose individuals to violent crime.
• 😀 Brain differences, including a reduced capacity for empathy, might contribute to criminal behavior, as seen in studies of criminals’ neural structures.
• 😀 The role of nurture in shaping criminal behavior is significant, as theories like Sutherland’s differential association theory highlight the influence of social environment.
• 😀 Family factors, such as poverty and poor parenting, have been shown to increase the likelihood of an individual turning to crime.
• 😀 Attachment theory suggests that children deprived of strong maternal bonds may develop antisocial behavior, increasing their risk of crime.
• 😀 Freud’s theory emphasizes the importance of early childhood relationships, with an inadequate superego potentially leading to criminal tendencies.
• 😀 The interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental influences is complex, and studies show that early childhood maltreatment can exacerbate aggressive behavior, especially for those with the warrior gene.

Q & A

What is the primary debate in psychology regarding human behavior?

The primary debate is whether human behavior is shaped more by nature (genetics) or nurture (environment). Psychologists continue to explore the extent to which genes or environmental factors influence behavior.

What are the fundamental components of personality according to Isaac (1947)?

Isaac proposed that personality traits like psychoticism (aggression, lack of emotion), neuroticism (anxiety, instability), and extroversion (outgoing nature) are key components of personality, and he suggested that these traits could be biologically based.

How does the maoa gene influence criminal behavior?

The maoa gene, sometimes called the 'warrior gene,' has been linked to aggression. Individuals with a certain version of this gene may be more prone to violent crime due to their predisposition for aggression.

What is the significance of brain differences in relation to criminal behavior?

Studies suggest that criminals may have brain differences that affect their capacity for empathy, leading to a reduced emotional range that could inhibit certain criminal actions. These differences could be biologically determined.

What does Sutherland’s differential association theory propose?

Sutherland's differential association theory suggests that criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others. The social environment plays a major role in shaping a person's behavior, and exposure to others who value criminal behavior can lead to adopting those same values.

How does family environment affect criminal behavior, according to Farrington (2006)?

Farrington found that family environment factors, such as poverty and poor parenting, are strong determinants of the likelihood of an individual engaging in criminal behavior.

What role did John Bowlby believe attachment plays in criminal behavior?

John Bowlby believed that a strong maternal bond is essential for healthy development in children. A disruption in this bond, such as the loss of a primary caregiver, can increase the likelihood of antisocial behavior and criminal involvement.

How does Sigmund Freud’s theory of personality relate to criminal behavior?

Freud suggested that an abnormal development of the superego (a part of the personality) in early childhood, particularly in the absence of the same-sex parent, could lead to an individual being more likely to commit crime.

What is the relationship between maltreatment, aggression, and the maoa gene?

Caspian’s 2002 study found that maltreatment during childhood correlated with increased aggression. This effect was particularly strong in individuals with the aggressive version of the maoa gene, highlighting the complex interaction between genetic predispositions and environmental factors.

How does the understanding of nature and nurture impact criminal sentencing?

The understanding of nature and nurture suggests that an individual's early life experiences, including negative environmental factors like poor parenting or poverty, should be considered when sentencing. This can lead to more informed and empathetic legal decisions, such as rehabilitation over punishment.