Book Description:
In criminology, environmentalism is the assumption that variations in criminal behavior result only from variations in environmental factors, especially social environmental factors. The biosocial perspective is quite different. It assumes that biological and environmental factors interact to affect criminal behavior. Social environmental explanations have dominated the field of criminology for at least the past century. Supporters of this perspective argue that because criminal is an ever-changing legal designation, it makes no sense to believe that crimes are the result of biology. Biosocial theorists concede that criminality is a legal concept, but argue that at the core of the concept are acts that are recognized as unacceptable in all societies.
The theme of this book is simple: Biology matters when trying to understand criminal behavior. This is not to exclude social factors but to maintain that social and biological factors interact to affect our varying tendencies to violate criminal statutes. Despite the conceptual simplicity of the biosocial perspective, the evidence that supports it is often complex and rests upon a number of biological principles that many criminologists do not understand. This book conveys some of the excitement that those working from a biosocial perspective are experiencing as they make new discoveries about how biological and social factors interact to affect criminal behavior.

Table of Contents:
Preface

PART 1: THEORETICAL OVERVIEW

Chapter 1. Introduction to Biosocial Theorizing
(Anthony Walsh)
pp. 3-12

Chapter 2. Genes, Criminality, and the Evolutionary Neuroandrogenic Theory
(Lee Ellis)
pp. 13-34

PART 2: EVOLUTIONARY THINKING AND CRIMINOLOGY
Chapter 3. A General Evolutionary Psychological Perspective of Criminality and Related Male-Typical Behavior
(Satoshi Kanazawa)
pp. 37-60

Chapter 4. The Sex Ratio: A Biosocial Explanation for Racial/Ethnic Variation in Crime Rates
(Anthony Walsh)
pp. 61-82

Chapter 5. Selfishness, Social Control, and Emotions: An Integrated Perspective on Criminality
(Stephen G. Tibbetts)
pp. 83-101
PART 3: BEHAVIORAL GENETICS AND CRIMINOLOGY

Chapter 6. Intelligence and Antisocial Behavior
(Anthony Walsh)
pp. 105-124

Chapter 7. The Adolescent-Limited/Life-Course Persistent Theory of Antisocial Behavior: What have We Learned?
(Terrie E. Moffitt and Anthony Walsh)
pp. 125-144

Chapter 8. Conduct Disorder: A Genetic, Orbitofrontal Lobe Disorder and the Major Predictor of Adult Antisocial Behavior
(David E. Comings)
pp. 145-164

PART 4: BRAIN FUNCTIONING, NEUROCHEMISTRY AND CRIMINOLOGY;

Chapter 9. Genes, Hormones, and Violence: Interaction with Complex Environments
(David Quadagno)
pp. 167-184

Chapter 10. Neuropsychological and Emotional Regulatory Processes in Antisocial Behavior
(Diana Fishbein)
pp. 185-208

Chapter 11. The Psychophysiology of Antisocial Behavior: Interactions With Environmental Experiences
(Angela Scarpa and Adrian Raine)
pp. 209-226

Chapter 12. The Neurophysiology of Motivation and Habitual Criminal Behavior
(Walter R. Gove and Charles K. Wilmoth)
pp. 227-245

EPILOGUE

Chapter 13. So You Want to be a Biosocial Criminologist: Advice from the Underground
pp. 249-256
Index.