Human violence between biology and environment: criminology towards a “new” biosocial approach?

Abstract

In recent years there has been a renewed interest in studying the relationship between biology and crime, with particular reference to aggression and violence. This “return” to the biological interpretations of antisocial conduct took rise from the growing body of research seeking to identify the genetic basis, biochemical and morphological characteristics of human behavior, both normal and pathological.

After a brief reminder of the main evolutionary stages of biological theories in criminology, we have examined the recent interpretations of the mechanisms underlying the development of violent behavior, so as to provide a comprehensive review of current scientific knowledge. Finally, we have analyzed an emerging topic in behavioral biology, epigenetics, a sort of “social genetics” which studies the changes induced by the environment on gene expression, rather than the gene structure.