Hereditary or genetic explanations of crime date back to the roots of criminology in the 1700s. Early theorists varied considerably on exactly what inherited factors, or combination of factors, were responsible for criminal behavior. They also made little distinction between biological and psychological characteristics. Since virtually all early theorists were trained as physicians, their main focus was on physical features of the human body.

Darwinism and Crime

In 1859, Charles Darwin presented his theory of evolution in On the Origen of the Species, which emphasized inherited traits ...

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