We’ve Come a Long Way: Introduction to the Special Issue on Modern Developments in Biosocial Criminology

• Author: Kevin M. Beaver,Joseph A. Schwartz
• DOI: 10.1177/1043986218817006
• Date: 01 February 2019
• Published date: 01 February 2019
• Subject Matter: Introduction

https://doi.org/10.1177/1043986218817006

Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice

2019, Vol. 35(1) 4 –6

© The Author(s) 2018

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DOI: 10.1177/1043986218817006

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Introduction

We’ve Come a Long

Way: Introduction to the

Special Issue on Modern

Developments in Biosocial

Criminology

The role of biology in criminology has come a long way. Mostly gone are the days in

which the discussion of XYY chromosomes, atavistic throwbacks, phrenology, and

dated references pitting nature against nurture were the sole contribution of the “bio-

logical theory” chapter of most criminology textbooks. In their place, discussions of

neurological structure and functioning, gene–environment interplay, behavioral endo-

crinology, and behavior genetics are becoming more and more likely to appear. This

evolutionary adaptation is exciting in and of itself, but it is also symbolic of a larger

shift in criminology. While still far from mainstream, biosocial criminology has

wedged itself into the modern criminological landscape. Biosocial articles have begun

to appear more frequently in some criminological journals, calls for biosocial research

have been put forth by federal funding agencies, more biosocial criminology courses

are being offered, and the number of students determined to study behavior from a

biosocial perspective has grown year over year. Even with all of this progress, we still

have a long road ahead of us. The journey before criminologists, biosocial or other-

wise, presents real challenges but also exciting opportunities to better realize the full

potential of the biosocial perspective in better informing existing theories, methodolo-

gies, and, yes, even policies.

In light of the progression of biosocial criminology within the last decade, this

special issue is aimed at presenting modern advances in biosocial criminology.

With this theme in mind, the special issue aims to address two objectives. First, we

hoped to attract studies that demonstrate the diversity of research organized by the

biosocial perspective. Modern biosocial research examines a broad range of topics,

employs an extensive number of research methodologies and datasets, and informs

an expansive set of theoretical perspectives. This diversity is reflected in the arti-

cles appearing in this issue, as the subject matter covered is relevant to many cor-

ners of mainstream criminology and criminal justice research. Three of the articles

included in the special issue examine topics other than criminal offending but are

still likely to be of interest to researchers working within a range of criminological

subareas. Gajos, Russell, Cleveland, Vandenbergh, and Feinberg (2019) examine

the contributions of gene–environment interplay in the association between roman-

tic partner alcohol misuse and problem drinking behaviors in emerging adulthood.

Portnoy, Legee, Raine, Choy, and Redo-Hutt (2019) examine the role of resting

817006CCJXXX10.1177/1043986218817006Journal of Contemporary Criminal JusticeSchwartz and Beaver

editorial2018