Which perspective emphasizes that criminal behavior has a physiological basis and focuses on the individual rather than the crime?

Which perspective emphasizes that criminal behavior has a physiological basis and focuses on the individual rather than the crime?

• A. Classical School
• B. Phrenology
• C. Biological school
• D. Positive School

Answer: (C)

Criminal behavior is explained through the offender’s biology, meaning the focus is on the individual’s physiological makeup rather than the act itself. The biological school argues that genetic factors, brain structure and function, hormones, and other bodily processes can influence tendencies toward crime, so explanations and interventions target the offender’s biology. This stands in contrast to the classical school, which emphasizes free will and rational choice, and the positive school, which looks at social and environmental factors but not solely the offender’s biology. Phrenology is an outdated, non-scientific idea that linked skull shape to traits rather than a coherent criminological framework. Because it directly ties offending to physiological attributes of the individual, the biological school is the best fit.

Criminal behavior is explained through the offender’s biology, meaning the focus is on the individual’s physiological makeup rather than the act itself. The biological school argues that genetic factors, brain structure and function, hormones, and other bodily processes can influence tendencies toward crime, so explanations and interventions target the offender’s biology. This stands in contrast to the classical school, which emphasizes free will and rational choice, and the positive school, which looks at social and environmental factors but not solely the offender’s biology. Phrenology is an outdated, non-scientific idea that linked skull shape to traits rather than a coherent criminological framework. Because it directly ties offending to physiological attributes of the individual, the biological school is the best fit.