Sexuality and Crime

Written by one of the leading figures in biosocial criminology and evolutionary psychology, this work explores the tight relationship between criminality and indiscriminate sexuality within the framework of life history theory. The underlying thesis is that traits associated with a strong libido, indiscriminately expressed, are intertwined with traits associated with criminal behavior; that is, excessive interest in sexual adventures pursued in an irresponsible way is undergirded by the same individual short- run hedonistic traits that define criminality. While traditional criminology tends to view sexual and criminal behavior as separate domains, many biosocial criminologists, evolutionary psychologists, neuroscientists, and behavioral and molecular geneticists are not at all surprised that a link exists between criminality and sexuality. Research shows that the statistical relationship between indiscriminate sexuality and criminal behavior is stronger than for most other variables associated with crime, although most studies dealing with this relationship are from outside the dominant environmentalist paradigm of criminology. Using life history theory as the theoretical umbrella for exploring the relationship between indiscriminate sexuality and criminal behavior, the book explores how and why criminal behavior is related to hypersexuality. Life history theory, which has a long and fruitful history of use among evolutionary biologists who use it to investigate the relationship between mating strategies and the environment among various species of animals (including humans) is particularly suited to understanding how an exclusive focus on mating effort is related to criminal behavior. This book will be of interest to scholars and students in criminology, psychology, and sociology, and anyone interested in examining the interconnection between biological, psychological, and socio- environmental factors in relation to criminal behavior.

Anthony Walsh is a professor of criminal justice at Boise State University. He has taught biosocial criminology, statistics, and philosophy of law there for 34 years. He received his PhD in criminology from Bowling Green State University in 1983. He worked as a marine, merchant seaman, police officer, and probation officer before entering academia at the age of 44. He is widely published, with 50 books and 150 articles and book chapters on a variety of topics including criminology and biosocial aspects of crime. He was awarded lifetime achievement awards from both the Biosocial Criminology Association and the Biopsychosocial Section of the American Society of Criminology for his research in biosocial criminology. His work has been featured on the Phil Donahue Show, Nova, and Nippon (Japanese) TV.

Chapter One: Bringing Biology Back In Introduction Biosocial Criminology The Fallacy of Genetic Determinism Behavior and Tinbergen's Four Questions Chapter Two: Behavioral Genetics: Genes and Heritability From Gene to Protein The Concept of Heritability Twin and Adoption Studies Heritability in Different Environments Shared and Non-Shared Environment Gene-Environment Interaction and Gene-Environment Correlation Chapter Three: Molecular Genetics and Behavior Genetic Polymorphisms Quantitative Trait Loci Epigenetics Dopaminergic Polymorphisms and Criminal and Sexual Behavior Genetics and Human Freedom Chapter Four: How Criminal Traits Evolve and Are Retained Crime is Normal Altruism Empathy Cooperation Creates Niches for Cheats Detecting and Punishing Cheats Chapter Five: Evolutionary Theories of Crime Evolutionary Theories of Crime: Past is Prolog Cheater and Conditional Adaptation Theories The Gender Ratio Issue The Age-Crime Curve Chapter Six: Life History Theory and the Covariance of Sexual and Criminal Traits The Basics of Life History Theory Human Life Histories and the K-Factor Linking Sexuality to Criminal Traits and Behaviors The Role of the Environment on Life History Strategies Chapter Seven: The Human Brain The Enchanted Loom and Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Wiring the Brain: Experience Expected and Experience Dependent Mechanisms Synaptogenesis as Neural Darwinism Neurotransmitters The Serotonergic System Norepinephrine and Epinephrine Testosterone and Cortisol Chapter Eight: The Antisocial Personalities: Psychopaths and Sociopaths Differentiating Antisocial Personality Disorder, Psychopathy, and Sociopathy The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised Evolutionary Considerations The Neurobiology of Psychopathy Neurochemistry Associated with Psychopathy Sociopathy Chapter Nine: The Sex Ratio, Fast Life Histories, and Crime The Sex Ratio Crime and the Sex Ratio The Sex Ratio in the African American Community The Sex Ratio, Illegitimacy, and Poverty High Sex Ratios and Crime References