Biological Determinism and Free Will in Crime Theory

Critical Thinking Exercise: Marriage, Biology and Crime

Marriage has been identified as an important event that encourages criminals to stop offending. What mechanisms do you believe could account for the impact of marriage on offenders?

Although marriage has been romanticized in contemporary society, it is actually traditionally a social contract: it is a promise made in public before witnesses; two people vow to be wed to one another, to become one, to become as it were a family. Since society depends on families and no future can be had without them, marriage is an important social function. Because it is inherently social, marriage relates to crime, which is essentially a violation of the social contract. By this logic, one can argue that marriage can play a part in crime prevention for several fundamental reasons.

First, marriage can provide a sense of purpose and direction (Damon, 2009). Being in a committed relationship with a spouse can provide a sense of purpose and direction, which can help individuals focus on positive goals and activities rather than engaging in criminal behavior. In addition to these shared goals, marriage can also provide a sense of personal growth and development. Being in a committed relationship requires individuals to work on themselves and their relationship skills in order to maintain a healthy and fulfilling partnership. This can involve personal growth in areas such as communication, emotional regulation, and conflict resolution. As individuals work on themselves and their relationship, they can develop a sense of purpose and direction as they see themselves grow and improve. By providing a sense of purpose and direction, marriage can help individuals focus on positive goals and activities rather than engaging in criminal behavior. Instead of turning to criminal activities to fill a void or achieve a sense of purpose, individuals in a committed relationship can find fulfillment in their shared goals and personal growth. This can help reduce the likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior and increase pro-social attitudes and behaviors.

Second, marriage can provide a sense of belonging and social support (Vanderhorst & McLaren, 2005). Being in a committed relationship with a spouse can provide a sense of belonging and social support, which can help individuals feel more connected to their community and less isolated. This sense of belonging and social support can help individuals develop pro-social attitudes and behaviors, which can discourage criminal behavior. marriage can provide emotional support and companionship, which can help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. Having a spouse to talk to and rely on can provide a sense of comfort and security, which can help individuals feel more connected to their community. This sense of belonging and social support can help individuals develop pro-social attitudes and behaviors, which can discourage criminal behavior. Pro-social attitudes and behaviors are those that are beneficial to society and others, such as empathy, cooperation, and helping others. By feeling a sense of belonging and support from their social network, individuals may be more likely to develop these attitudes and behaviors, which can help reduce the likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior. Moreover, marriage can also provide individuals with a sense of responsibility towards their spouse and family. This responsibility can motivate individuals to act in ways that are consistent with pro-social attitudes and behaviors, and discourage criminal behavior.

There are several mechanisms that could account for the impact of marriage on offenders. One of the most commonly cited theories to explain this phenomenon is social control theory.

According to social control theory, people are less likely to engage in deviant or criminal behavior if they have strong social bonds, such as those formed through marriage. Marriage provides a sense of belonging and stability, which can help reduce the likelihood of engaging in criminal activity. Additionally, marriage creates a sense of responsibility and accountability to one's spouse, which can also serve as a deterrent to criminal behavior (Regnerus, 2003).

Another possible mechanism is the marriage market hypothesis, which suggests that individuals who get married may experience a positive change in their socioeconomic status, which in turn may discourage criminal activity. For example, married individuals may be more likely to have stable employment and income, which can reduce the need to engage in criminal behavior to make ends meet. Additionally, some researchers have suggested that marriage may also impact offenders through its effect on mental health (Regnerus, 2003). Marriage has been shown to have a positive impact on mental health, which can in turn reduce stress and other negative emotions that may contribute to criminal behavior.

Overall, the mechanisms that account for the impact of marriage on offenders are likely complex and multifaceted, drawing from a range of sociological and psychological theories. Nonetheless, it is not illogical to argue that marriage can prevent a person from offending or committing crimes by increasing social bonds and attachments, providing emotional and financial stability, providing a sense of purpose and direction, and providing a sense of belonging and social support.

Biological theories of criminal behaviour have been discussed for decades. What reasons do you believe account for our enduring preoccupation with the role of genetics and other biological factors in crime?

One possible reason for the enduring preoccupation with the role of genetics and other biological factors in crime is the idea of determinism. According to the deterministic perspective, human behavior is largely determined by biological and environmental factors, and individuals have little control over their behavior (Bandura, 1978). This perspective suggests that criminal behavior is largely determined by factors such as genetics and brain function, and that individuals may be more or less predisposed to engage in criminal behavior based on these factors.

The idea of determinism coincides, however, with the loss of the sense of free will. In a culture that tends towards being a welfare state, there is less and less focus on personal responsibility and accountability and more focus on victimhood. People are taught that they are not to blame for their problems—rather, it is the fault of their circumstances, their environment, their biology, the social determinants of health, and so on. It is not a culture of virtue ethics in the contemporary Western world. Instead, it is a culture of determinism.

However, there are other aspects to the issue as well. For instance, the enduring interest in biological theories of criminal behavior may also be influenced by the concept of biological essentialism. Biological essentialism is the idea that certain biological traits, such as genetics or brain structure, are essential to an individual's identity and behavior (Greene, 2020). This perspective suggests that criminal behavior may be rooted in an individual's biology, and that interventions aimed at changing behavior may be futile.

These ideas are not new. They are rooted in age-old notions of character fundamental to the great man thesis—i.e., that great men are born (Organ, 1996). This was a popular notion in the 19th century when thinkers tried to account for the likes of men such as Shakespeare, Napoleon and George Washington. It was believed that some people are simply born to be great. The opposite end of this idea, of course, is that some people are born to be criminals. Neither extreme takes into consideration the aspect of nurturing, as both focus solely on nature. The fact is, however, that psychologists over the decades have tended to conclude that psychology and behavior are developed over time as a result of the combined effects of nature and nurturing. The nature vs. nurture debate, in other words, produced a stalemate in which both sides’ merits in the argument have to be acknowledged along with both sides’ limitations.

Nonetheless, the idea of a biological basis for criminal behavior may continue to be appealing to those seeking simple and straightforward explanations for complex phenomena. Biological theories of criminal behavior suggest that criminal behavior can be explained by a set of biological factors, which can be studied and potentially targeted through interventions such as medication or genetic engineering. This perspective may be more appealing than more complex explanations that involve a range of social and environmental factors.

The enduring preoccupation with the role of genetics and other biological factors in crime can be explained by the interplay of these factors. The deterministic perspective, biological essentialism, and the appeal of simple explanations for complex phenomena all contribute to the continued interest in biological theories of criminal behavior. It is important to note, however, that these perspectives may oversimplify the complex interplay of biological, social, and environmental factors that contribute to criminal behavior, and that a more comprehensive understanding of these factors may be necessary to effectively prevent and address criminal behavior.