The criminal brain : understanding biological theories of crime / Nicole Rafter, Chad Posick, and Michael Rocque.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rafter, Nicole Hahn, 1939- author.

Posick, Chad, author.

Rocque, Michael, author.

Contributor:

JSTOR (Organization)

Lipman Criminology Library Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Criminal behavior--Genetic aspects.

Criminal behavior.

Criminal anthropology.

Criminal anthropology--History.

History.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xx, 375 pages) : illustrations

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : New York University Press, [2016]

System Details:

text file

Summary:

What is the relationship between criminality and biology? Is criminality inherited as a set of genetic deficits that place one at risk to commit theft, violence, or acts of sexual deviance? Are contemporary theories about biology and crime as dangerous as their forerunners, which the Nazis and other eugenicists used to sterilize, incarcerate, and even execute thousands of supposed "born" criminals? How can we prepare for a future in which leaders may propose crime-control programs based on biology? In this second edition of The Criminal Brain, Nicole Rafter, Chad Posick, and Michael Rocque describe early biological theories of crime and provide a lively, up-to-date overview of the newest research in biosocial criminology. New chapters introduce the theories of the latter part of the twentieth century; apply and critically assess current biosocial and evolutionary theories, the developments in neuron-imaging, and recent progressions in fields such as epigenetics; and finally, provide a vision for the future of criminology and crime policy from a biosocial perspective. The book is a careful, critical examination of each research approach and conclusion. Both compiling and analyzing the body of scholarship devoted to understanding the criminal brain, this volume serves as a condensed, accessible, and contemporary exploration of biological theories of crime and their everyday relevance. Book jacket.

Contents:

Introduction: Crime, history, science

Moral insanity and the origins of criminology

Phrenology : the abnormal brain

Criminal anthropology : the atavistic brain

Evolutionary theories : the degenerate brain

Stupidity theories : the backward brain

Constitutional theory : bodytypes and criminality

Criminology's darkest hour : biocriminology in Nazi Germany

An unhappy couple : criminology and biology in the late 20th century

Becoming partners : the emergent biosocial model in theory, policy, and practice

The future of biosocial criminology.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Electronic reproduction. New York Available via World Wide Web.

Description based on print version record.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Lipman Criminology Library Fund.

Other Edition:

Revision of: 9780814776131 Rafter, Nicole Hahn, 1939- New York : New York University Press, ©2008

ISBN:

9781479824540

1479824542

Publisher Number:

99970455111

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.