Biopsychosocial Criminology

Can our genes, our brain or even our resting heart rate influence our propensity to commit crime? How can we understand why men are more violent than women, based on evolution? Why are twins so important for our understanding of the heritability of criminality? Biopsychosocial criminology aims to explain such questions using biological, psychological, and social factors as well as their interplay. During the course, students become familiar with basic concepts and research methods that have been and are important for the understanding and development of biopsychosocial criminology. The importance of using several perspectives to improve our understanding of violence and other criminal behavior is highlighted within the course, where biological, psychological, and social factors are in focus. The course also involves potential legal consequences of this knowledge and how this knowledge can be used to develop more effective crime prevention strategies.