Final answer:
Biological theories of criminology focus on physiological dispositions to criminal behavior, while psychological theories center on mental states and individual experiences. Sociological perspectives, by contrast, consider societal structures and norms as shaping forces in an individual's propensity to commit crime.
Step-by-step explanation:
Biological and psychological theories of criminology are distinct in several ways. Biological theories suggest that a person's genetics and physiological characteristics can predispose them to criminal behavior. This might include brain structures, neurochemical imbalances, or inherited psychological traits. On the other hand, psychological theories focus on an individual's mental state and how their emotional and cognitive development, as well as their experiences, shape their propensity for crime.
Psychological criminology encompasses a range of theories including the process of moral development, which is the evolution of an individual's understanding of right and wrong, and their ability to act based on that understanding.
In contrast, the sociological perspective on crime looks at how societal structure, cultural norms, and social interactions might contribute to criminal behavior. Sociological theories of self-development focus on how society affects personal growth. This external approach examines how societal conditions like poverty, inequality, and peer influence might lead to crime. Conflict theory understands deviance and crime as a result of social and economic inequalities, while symbolic interactionism looks at how societal labels can contribute to deviance, in which individuals come to identify and behave in accordance with the labels placed on them by society.