Criminology: Nature vs. Nurture - Assignment on Biology and Society

This assignment delves into the ongoing debate of nature versus nurture in criminology, examining the influence of both biological and environmental factors on criminal behavior. The paper explores how Charles Darwin's theories have shaped perspectives on criminal tendencies, highlighting the role of genetics and inheritance, as well as the impact of social environments, upbringing, and peer influence. It contrasts the biological viewpoints, which suggest that criminal behavior can be inherited, with sociological perspectives, which emphasize the role of societal influences in shaping individuals' actions. The assignment references key studies, such as Galton's work on creative genius and Jones' research on autism, to illustrate the complexities of this debate and the interplay between nature and nurture in determining criminal behavior. The assignment concludes by summarizing the contrasting viewpoints, emphasizing how both biological background and day-to-day interactions with society contribute to the understanding of criminal behavior.

Running Head: CRIMINOLOGY 1
Nature-nurture debate
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Criminology 2
Nature-nurture debate
For a long time, there has been a debate on the difference or similarity between Nature and
nurture. Natural selection and influence play a key role in creating an understanding of the
two terms as promoted by Charles Darwin. Between the 19th and 20th Century, criminal
behaviours were determined by one’s biological background. Criminal behaviours that come
naturally because of one’s biological background or genetic inheritance relates to nature.
For example, Darwinian views stated that a criminal man is likely to have criminal children
because they inherit his behaviours genetically, (Galton, 2019, 291). As a result, the aspect
of “nature” comes in. on the other hand, ‘nurture’ in criminology is as a result of one’s social
environment. In development criminology, it is observed that one’s behaviour is ‘natured’
over time because of peer pressure or life within a hostile environment. This mainly leads to
adult criminality or adolescent delinquency as a result of weak social bonds during one’s
upbringing, (Jones, 2019, 482). According to the sociological view, criminality is created by
society because nurture can control crimes that forces one to either have a criminal life or
not.
Therefore, nature can be said to come from one’s biological background whereas nurture
comes from an individual’s day to day interaction with society. As stated, a parent’s
biological composition is likely to determine whether the child will become a criminal or not.
On the other hand, criminal behaviour is determined by the surrounding, mode of
upbringing and day to day interactions with people.

Criminology 3
References
Galton, F. (2019). The Nature and Nurture of Creative Genius. The Creativity Reader, 291.
Jones, R. M. (2019). Nature versus nurture in autism. Science Translational
Medicine, 11(482).