NCJ Number
42849
Date Published
1977
Length
222 pages
Annotation
IT IS ARGUED THAT CRIMINAL AND NON-CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR STEM FROM A COMBINATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS CONDITIONING BEHAVIOR, AND BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS THAT AFFECT THE CONDITIONABILITY OF EACH PERSON.
Abstract
THIS BOOK PRINCIPALLY MAINTAINS THAT THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A PERSON'S CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, DETERMINED BY HEREDITY, PLAY A MUCH LARGER PART IN PERSONALITY TRAITS AND BEHAVIOR THAN HAS BEEN GENERALLY ACKNOWLEDGED. THE STRUCTURE OF THE BRAIN AND CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM ARE SAID TO DETERMINE THE DEGREE TO WHICH PERSONS CAN LEARN AND INTERNALIZE SOCIALIZED BEHAVIOR PATTERNS, CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, IT IS SAID, RESULTS LARGELY FROM AN INDIVIDUAL'S LIMITED CAPACITY TO CURB AND SUBLIMATE INSTINCTUAL SURVIVAL IMPULSES ORIGINATING IN THE PRIMITIVE PORTION OF THE BRAIN. SUCH PERSONS, IT IS BELIEVED, HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY LEARNING BEHAVIOR THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT OTHER PEOPLE'S FEELINGS AND RIGHTS AND ADOPTING COMPLEX BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS REQUIRING SELF-CONTROL, RATIONAL ANALYSIS, AND THE APPLICATION OF SOPHISTICATED VALUE SYSTEMS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF TESTING THAT MEASURES CONDITIONABILITY AND DRUGS THAT ALTER GENETIC CONDITIONS UNDERLYING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, TOGETHER WITH INTENSIVE CONDITIONING PROGRAMS DESIGNED FOR THOSE HANDICAPPED BY WEAK CONDITIONABILITY ARE URGED. DATA AND EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE ARE OFFERED TO SUPPORT THE THEORIES SET FORTH. ....RCB