ABSTRACT
We should note that there have been no conclusive scientific tests which have been able to establish – or for that matter completely dismiss – any biological or psychological link with crime and criminal behaviour. Thus, while theories based on these ideas have been widely criticised – and may seem to the reader to be both nonsensical and sexist – they cannot be totally dismissed. Behavioural scientists and others in the social sciences have tried to establish other explanations for criminal behaviour and claim that either socialisation or environment has accentuated a previously very small or non-existent biological difference. In general it seems that biological arguments appear to have little contemporary credibility and the more sociologically based theories seem to offer more plausible explanations.
