Required Readings

Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. (2017). Criminal behavior: A psychological approach (11th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Chapter 3, “Origins of Criminal Behavior: Biological Factors” (pp. 59-81)
Note: These pages are part of a chapter assigned in Weeks 1 and 4.

Mead, H. K., Beauchaine, T. P., & Shannon, K. E. (2010). Neurobiological adaptations to violence across development. Development and Psychopathology, 22(1), 1–22.

Thiel, K. S., Baladerian, N. J., Boyce, K. R., Cantos, O., Davis, L. A., Kelly, K., & Stream, J. (2011). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and victimization: Implications for families, educators, social services, law enforcement, and the judicial system. Journal of Psychiatry & Law, 39(1), 121–157.

Williams, W. H., Chitsabesan, P., Fazel, S., McMillan, T., Hughes, N., Parsonage, M., & Tonks, J. (2018). Traumatic brain injury: a potential cause of violent crime?. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5(10), 836-844. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6171742/

Wilson, S., & Adshead, G. (2008). When violence becomes a psychiatric symptom. Philosophy, Psychiatry & Psychology, 15(1), 57–67, 77–79.

Assignment: Biological Theories and Criminal Behavior

There is much research to evaluate in formulating your own opinion about the validity of the biological approach to criminal behavior. As you ponder the legitimacy of this research and of the biological approach, consider two important questions: First, do biological theories illuminate your understanding of the nature of criminal behavior? Second, to what degree is biology a factor in criminal behavior—or in other words, how significant is the role of biology in criminal behavior?

Assignment (2–3 pages):

• Select and describe two biological theories.
• Evaluate the degree to which you think each theory adequately explains criminal behavior. Justify your position with specific examples and references.
• Based on your evaluation, explain at least one conclusion you drew or insight you had about the validity of the biological approach as a body of research to explain criminal behavior.

Support your Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a reference list only for those resources not included in the resources for this course.

By day 7