Evolution and Crime (Crime Science Series

[...]... criminology? It will probably take a generation for the antipathy towards taking Crime and evolution: strange companions? 7 an evolutionary view of crime to subside, and it will only do so then if new criminologists are informed of relevant aspects of evolution theorising While we will be writing specifically about evolution and crime, it is perhaps worth pausing to argue the case from a different perspective:... trick by its neglect of evolution, and because we are not equipped to contribute anything (except our admiration 2 Crime and evolution: strange companions? for its ingenuity) to evolutionary thinking We believe that there is scope for more collaborative work, with criminologists and crime scientists exposed to Darwinian thought having much to gain It would be stupid to suggest that evolutionary thinking... topic of crime is rarely touched upon in textbooks on evolution and the topic of evolution rarely mentioned in criminology textbooks This book represents an attempt to present, in a form accessible to social science students with no background in the biological sciences, the ways in which a Darwinian perspective has rich potential in enhancing our understanding of the criminal law, crime and criminality... in the social sciences, have only a superficial idea of the facts and implications of evolutionary theory and research This conclusion determined the structure of the early part of this book Our hope is that the reader leaves this chapter with a recognition that evolution provides the only compelling Crime and evolution: strange companions? 11 account of how, anatomically, species emerge and change over... by genetics and the environment of the womb Many of those who are prepared to accept that evolution gave us our size and shape draw the line at our behaviour An evolutionary account of human nature is often taken Crime and evolution: strange companions? 3 3 to imply that people are fixed into a uniform way of behaving, which contrasts with the diversity of human language, art, etiquette and dispositions... textbooks The topic of crime is rarely touched upon as such in textbooks on evolution, but much of the material in them has clear implications for our understanding of crime Criminology would certainly be the more reluctant partner in any foreseeable liaison with evolutionary science This book is therefore directed towards students of criminology and not towards students of evolution, both because... quality of the frames of reference Linking crime with alchemy or necromancy will not help understanding, 8 Crime and evolution: strange companions? except of fraudsters who claim skills in those enterprises So we must champion the heuristic value of evolutionary thinking Does it yield testable ideas? Is evolution a true account of how we got to be as we are? Is evolution true? Yes, it is If it were not,... US science teachers and public (from Berkman et al., 2008) God’s agency) than the public So once again, being scientifically informed greatly increased belief in evolution Better qualified teachers spent more class time teaching evolution Berkman recommends that requiring all science teachers to complete a course in evolutionary biology would have a substantial impact on the emphasis on evolution and. .. knowledge; evolution is a valid and useful frame of reference, and yet substantial minorities of citizens of countries with good education systems do not accept the evolutionary account of how species emerged and changed It therefore behoves us to summarise the evidence for evolution In the light of widespread disbelief, it does seem important to preface the discussion of evolution alongside crime with... with few exceptions, failed to bring evolutionary thinking to bear on the understanding of crime Second, the case was made that linking disparate ideas is the essence of creative thinking, and that the evolutionary perspective has been especially fruitful in advancing understanding of phenomena other than crime Third, it was asserted that the obstacles to teaching evolution mean that many of those entering . Prevention and Geometry of Crime Edited by Martin A. Andresen and J. Bryan Kinney 12. Evolution and Crime Jason Roach and Ken Pease This page intentionally left blank Evolution and Crime Jason Roach and. nature of crime science is captured in the name. First, crime science is about crime. Instead of the usual focus in criminology on the characteristics of the criminal offender, crime science. disadvantage and the like – to the near causes of crime. Crime scientists are interested in why, where, when and how particular crimes occur. They examine trends and patterns in crime in order