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Biological Contributions to Crime Causation pp 308–331Cite as

Biology and Female Crime

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Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASID,volume 40))

Abstract

Biological explanations of female crime have existed since at least the turn of the century. However, in a previous general review of research on female criminality (Widom, 1978a), very little empirical work was found that has focused on biological factors, with the exception of Dalton’s papers on the relationship between the menstrual cycle and female crime. This chapter reviews the existing research on the relationship between biology and female crime. It is not an attempt to determine whether female crime results primarily from biological causes. It is an effort to stimulate and guide future research in promising directions. The literature on sex differences in aggressiveness or criminality will not be reviewed here, since many such reviews already exist (e.g., Cloninger, Christiansen, Reich, & Gottesman, 1978; Maccoby & Jacklin, 1980; Wilson & Herrnstein, 1985).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Criminal Justice and Psychology, Indiana University, USA

    Cathy Spatz Widom & Ashley Ames

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  1. Cathy Spatz Widom
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  2. Ashley Ames
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Brogden Hall, 1202 West Johnson Street, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA

    Terrie E. Moffitt

  2. Social Science Research Institute, and Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Denney Research Building, Los Angeles, California, 90089-1111, USA

    Sarnoff A. Mednick

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Widom, C.S., Ames, A. (1988). Biology and Female Crime. In: Moffitt, T.E., Mednick, S.A. (eds) Biological Contributions to Crime Causation. NATO ASI Series, vol 40. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2768-1_18

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