Define Biosocial

Define Biosocial: Unpacking the Interplay of Biology and Society

Introduction:

Have you ever considered the intricate dance between our genes and our environment? How much of who we are is determined by our DNA, and how much is shaped by the societies we inhabit? This isn't a nature versus nurture debate; it's a much more nuanced exploration of the biosocial. This comprehensive guide will delve deep into defining "biosocial," exploring its implications across various fields, and clarifying its distinctions from related concepts. We'll examine how biological factors interact with social structures, cultural norms, and individual experiences to shape everything from our physical health to our social behaviors. By the end, you'll have a firm grasp of this crucial concept and its relevance in understanding the human condition.

What Does Biosocial Mean?

The term "biosocial" elegantly captures the inseparable relationship between biological and social factors in influencing human development, behavior, and health. It's not simply about adding biology and society together; it's about recognizing their complex interplay and reciprocal influence. Biosocial approaches acknowledge that biological predispositions (genetics, hormones, etc.) interact dynamically with social contexts (culture, socioeconomic status, relationships, etc.) to produce observable outcomes. For instance, a genetic predisposition to anxiety might manifest differently depending on the level of social support an individual receives. Similarly, societal pressures surrounding body image can profoundly impact an individual's biological health and well-being.

Biosocial vs. Other Related Concepts: Clearing Up the Confusion

It's important to differentiate "biosocial" from similar terms often used interchangeably.

Biopsychosocial: This broader model encompasses biological, psychological, and social factors. While biosocial is a component of the biopsychosocial model, it specifically highlights the interaction between biology and society, whereas the biopsychosocial model includes the psychological dimension as well.

Sociobiology: This field focuses on the evolutionary basis of social behavior, emphasizing the role of genes in shaping social structures and interactions. While overlapping with biosocial approaches, sociobiology tends to place a stronger emphasis on evolutionary explanations and may downplay the agency of individuals and the influence of social structures.

Behavioral Genetics: This field examines the heritability of behavioral traits, using statistical methods to quantify the contribution of genes and environment. It provides valuable data on the genetic basis of behavior, but often lacks the nuanced understanding of social context offered by biosocial perspectives.

The Biosocial Lens Across Disciplines

The biosocial framework is applied across a wide range of disciplines:

Medicine: Understanding the biosocial influences on health disparities, chronic disease development, and the effectiveness of medical interventions. For example, examining how socioeconomic factors interact with genetic predispositions to increase the risk of heart disease.

Psychology: Exploring how social experiences shape brain development, cognitive abilities, and mental health. This involves examining the interplay between social stress, gene expression, and the development of mental disorders.

Sociology: Investigating how social inequalities, cultural norms, and power dynamics influence biological outcomes, such as reproductive health or life expectancy. For example, studying how access to healthcare and resources shapes pregnancy outcomes across different socioeconomic groups.

Anthropology: Studying the evolutionary and cultural context of human behavior, considering the interplay of genetics, environment, and social practices. This might involve comparing the social structures and biological adaptations of different human populations.

Criminology: Examining the biosocial factors contributing to criminal behavior, considering both genetic predispositions and environmental influences such as poverty and social exclusion.

Case Studies: Illustrating Biosocial Interactions

Several compelling examples illustrate the power of the biosocial approach:

The impact of childhood trauma on adult health: Early life stress can alter gene expression, increasing vulnerability to chronic diseases later in life. This highlights the lasting impact of social environment on biological functioning.

The relationship between socioeconomic status and lifespan: Lower socioeconomic status is associated with increased risk of various diseases and a shorter lifespan, reflecting the complex interplay of social determinants and biological outcomes.

The influence of social support on immune function: Strong social connections have been linked to enhanced immune responses, showcasing the positive impact of social factors on biological processes.

Conclusion: The Importance of a Biosocial Perspective

Understanding the biosocial is critical for addressing many of the pressing challenges facing humanity. By acknowledging the inextricable link between biology and society, we can develop more comprehensive and effective strategies for improving health, promoting well-being, and addressing social inequalities. A biosocial perspective encourages us to move beyond simplistic nature versus nurture dichotomies and embrace a more holistic understanding of the human condition. It challenges us to consider the complex interplay of factors that shape our lives and to work towards creating environments that support both our biological and social needs.

Article Outline: Define Biosocial

I. Introduction:
Hook: Engaging opening to capture reader interest.
Overview: Briefly explain the concept of biosocial.
Thesis statement: State the article's main purpose.

II. Defining Biosocial:
Core definition: Provide a clear and concise definition.
Examples: Illustrate the concept with real-world examples.

III. Biosocial vs. Related Concepts:
Comparison with biopsychosocial, sociobiology, and behavioral genetics.
Highlight key differences and similarities.

IV. Applications Across Disciplines:
Explore the relevance of the biosocial approach in various fields.
Provide specific examples for each discipline.

V. Case Studies:
Present detailed case studies illustrating biosocial interactions.
Analyze the interplay between biological and social factors.

VI. Conclusion:
Summarize the main points and reiterate the importance of the biosocial perspective.
Offer concluding thoughts and potential future implications.

Article Content Explaining Each Outline Point (This section would expand on each point in the outline above, adding substantial detail and further examples to create the full 1500+ word article. The following is a sample for a few points to illustrate):

II. Defining Biosocial:

The term "biosocial" signifies the dynamic interplay between biological processes and social structures, cultural contexts, and individual experiences. It acknowledges that our genes, hormones, and physiological systems are not independent entities but are constantly interacting with and shaped by the social environments we inhabit. This interaction is not unidirectional; our biological characteristics can influence our social interactions, while social factors can in turn affect our biology. For example, consider the impact of social stress on the immune system. Chronic stress, stemming from social factors like poverty or relationship difficulties, can suppress immune function, making individuals more susceptible to illness. Conversely, an individual's genetic predisposition towards a certain personality trait, such as introversion or extroversion, might influence their social interactions and relationships.


III. Biosocial vs. Related Concepts:

While frequently used interchangeably, "biosocial" differs subtly from related concepts. The biopsychosocial model, for instance, broadens the scope to include psychological factors alongside the biological and social. Biosocial, therefore, represents a subset of the biopsychosocial model, focusing specifically on the biology-society interaction. Sociobiology, while acknowledging biological influences on social behavior, emphasizes evolutionary explanations, potentially overlooking the role of social structures and individual agency. Behavioral genetics quantifies the heritability of traits, offering valuable data but often lacking the contextual depth of a biosocial perspective that considers the complex interplay between genes and environment.


V. Case Studies:

One compelling case study involves the investigation of the effects of early childhood adversity on adult health outcomes. Research has shown that experiences such as neglect, abuse, or witnessing domestic violence can lead to epigenetic changes, altering gene expression and increasing vulnerability to various diseases throughout life. This highlights how social stressors in early life can have a profound and lasting impact on biological functioning. Another example is the study of social inequalities in health outcomes. Disparities in access to healthcare, education, and nutritious food, linked to socioeconomic status, are directly correlated with different disease prevalence and life expectancies across population groups.


(The remaining sections would be fleshed out similarly, expanding on the outline points with detailed explanations and examples.)

FAQs:

1. What is the difference between biosocial and biopsychosocial? Biosocial focuses specifically on the interaction between biological and social factors, while biopsychosocial adds a psychological component.

2. How does sociobiology relate to the biosocial perspective? Sociobiology emphasizes the evolutionary basis of social behavior, while biosocial encompasses a broader range of influences, including cultural and social structures.

3. Can you give a specific example of a biosocial phenomenon? The impact of childhood trauma on adult health, leading to epigenetic changes and increased disease risk, is a prime example.

4. How is the biosocial approach applied in medicine? It informs understanding of health disparities, chronic disease development, and treatment efficacy by considering social context alongside biological factors.

5. What are some limitations of the biosocial perspective? It can be complex to disentangle the intricate interactions between biological and social factors, requiring sophisticated research methodologies.

6. How does the biosocial approach differ from purely biological or purely social explanations? It avoids reductionism by considering the dynamic interplay between biological predispositions and social contexts.

7. What is the role of culture in a biosocial framework? Culture significantly shapes social structures and norms, influencing biological outcomes and behavior.

8. How can a biosocial understanding help address social inequalities? By understanding how social factors impact biological outcomes, we can develop more targeted interventions to reduce health disparities.

9. What are some future directions for biosocial research? Further investigation is needed into the mechanisms by which genes and environment interact, as well as the development of more comprehensive models to understand the complex interplay of factors.

Related Articles:

1. The Biopsychosocial Model: A Comprehensive Approach to Health: Explores the broader model encompassing biological, psychological, and social factors.

2. Sociobiology and the Evolution of Human Behavior: Delves into the evolutionary perspective on social behavior and its biological underpinnings.

3. Epigenetics and the Impact of Environment on Gene Expression: Examines how environmental factors can alter gene expression, impacting health and behavior.

4. The Social Determinants of Health: Focuses on how social factors contribute to health inequalities and disparities.

5. Stress and the Immune System: A Biosocial Perspective: Explores the intricate link between social stress and immune function.

6. Childhood Trauma and Adult Health Outcomes: Examines the long-term effects of early life adversity on physical and mental health.

7. Behavioral Genetics and the Heritability of Traits: Provides insights into the genetic basis of behavioral characteristics.

8. The Biosocial Approach to Criminology: Examines the interplay of biological and social factors in criminal behavior.

9. Applying a Biosocial Lens to Public Health Interventions: Discusses the importance of integrating biosocial understanding in designing effective public health strategies.


  define biosocial: Biosocial Worlds Jens Seeberg, Andreas Roepstorff, Lotte Meinert, 2020-09-29 Biosocial Worlds presents state-of-the-art contributions to anthropological reflections on the porous boundaries between human and non-human life – biosocial worlds. Based on changing understandings of biology and the social, it explores what it means to be human in these worlds. Growing separation of scientific disciplines for more than a century has maintained a separation of the ‘natural’ and the ‘social’ that has created a space for projections between the two. Such projections carry a directional causality and so constitute powerful means to establish discursive authority. While arguing against the separation of the biological and the social in the study of human and non-human life, it remains important to unfold the consequences of their discursive separation. Based on examples from Botswana, Denmark, Mexico, the Netherlands, Uganda, the UK and USA, the volume explores what has been created in the space between ‘the social’ and ‘the natural’, with a view to rethink ‘the biosocial’. Health topics in the book include diabetes, trauma, cancer, HIV, tuberculosis, prevention of neonatal disease and wider issues of epigenetics. Many of the chapters engage with constructions of health and disease in a wide range of environments, and engage with analysis of the concept of ‘environment’. Anthropological reflection and ethnographic case studies explore how ‘health’ and ‘environment’ are entangled in ways that move their relation beyond interdependence to one of inseparability. The subtitle of this volume captures these insights through the concept of ‘health environment’, seeking to move the engagement of anthropology and biology beyond deterministic projections.
  define biosocial: Biosocial Synchrony on Sumba Cynthia T. Fowler, 2016-12-12 Biosocial Synchrony on Sumba: Multispecies Relationships and Environmental Variations in Indonesia examines biosocial change in the Austronesian community of the Kodi by examining multispecies interactions between select biota and abiota. Cynthia T. Fowler describes how the Kodi people coordinate their mundane and ritual practices with polychaetes and celestial bodies, and how this synchrony encourages and is encouraged by social and ecological variations. Fowler grounds her anthropogenic environmental research with information from geospatial science, marine ecology, astronomy, physics, and astrophysics.
  define biosocial: Understanding Biosocial Criminology Anthony Walsh, 2024-04-12 Informative and insightful, this prescient book argues that biosocial criminology is a powerful paradigm for understanding criminal behavior, crucially outlining its nature via nurture perspective, as opposed to nature versus nurture.
  define biosocial: Bio-social Issues in Health R. K. Pathak, Anil Kishore Sinha, 2008 Themes included are:¿Issues on Health and Disease Approaches¿Health and Health Care Systems: Socio-cultural and Ecological Dimension¿Nutrition, Human Growth and Development¿Health and Mental Illness¿Contemporary Issues in Tribal Health and Care of the AgedContributors are from ¿Academic and research institutions of various States and Union Territories¿Subject specialists from different fields such as ¿Anthropology¿Biochemistry¿Bio-medicine ¿Community medicine¿Demography ¿Geography¿Home science¿Indigenous System of Medicine¿Ayurveda ¿Microbiology ¿ Pediatrics¿Philosophy¿Psychiatry and Social Psychology¿Covers a variety of therapies ranging from traditional to modern therapy for curing illness and disease¿Research Papers have been reviewed by the subject specialists¿Useful for the academicians from the fields of anthropology, sociology, psychology, home science, medical professionals, social scientists, administrators, planners, NGOs, teachers and students of various disciplines, and the broad spectrum of scholars interested in the science of man.
  define biosocial: Biosocial Education Deborah Youdell, Martin R. Lindley, 2018-10-03 In this groundbreaking text, Youdell and Lindley bring together cutting-edge research from the fields of biology and social science to explore the complex interactions between the diverse processes which impact on education and learning. Transforming the way we think about our students, our classrooms, teaching and learning, Biosocial Education draws on advances in genetics and metabolomics, epigenetics, biochemistry and neuroscience, to illustrate how new understandings of how bodies function can and must inform educational theory, policy and everyday pedagogical practices. Offering detailed insight into new findings in these areas and providing a compelling account of both the implications and limits of this new-found knowledge, the text confronts the mechanisms of interaction between multiple biological and social factors, and explores how educators might mobilize these ‘biosocial’ influences to enhance learning and enable each child to attain educational success. By seeking out transdisciplinary and multi-factor answers to the question of how education works and how children learn, this book lays the foundations for a step-change in the way we approach learning. It is an essential read for researchers, teachers and practitioners involved in educational policy and practice at any level.
  define biosocial: New Directions in the Sociology of Aging Panel on New Directions in Social Demography, Social Epidemiology, and the Sociology of Aging, Committee on Population, 2014-01-09 The aging of the population of the United States is occurring at a time of major economic and social changes. These economic changes include consideration of increases in the age of eligibility for Social Security and Medicare and possible changes in benefit levels. Furthermore, changes in the social context in which older individuals and families function may well affect the nature of key social relationships and institutions that define the environment for older persons. Sociology offers a knowledge base, a number of useful analytic approaches and tools, and unique theoretical perspectives that can facilitate understanding of these demographic, economic, and social changes and, to the extent possible, their causes, consequences and implications. The Future of the Sociology of Aging: An Agenda for Action evaluates the recent contributions of social demography, social epidemiology and sociology to the study of aging and identifies promising new research directions in these sub-fields. Included in this study are nine papers prepared by experts in sociology, demography, social genomics, public health, and other fields, that highlight the broad array of tools and perspectives that can provide the basis for further advancing the understanding of aging processes in ways that can inform policy. This report discusses the role of sociology in what is a wide-ranging and diverse field of study; a proposed three-dimensional conceptual model for studying social processes in aging over the life cycle; a review of existing databases, data needs and opportunities, primarily in the area of measurement of interhousehold and intergenerational transmission of resources, biomarkers and biosocial interactions; and a summary of roadblocks and bridges to transdisciplinary research that will affect the future directions of the field of sociology of aging.
  define biosocial: Introduction to Biosocial Medicine Donald A. Barr, 2015 Understanding human behavior is essential if medical students and doctors are to provide more effective health care. While 40 percent of premature deaths in the United States can be attributed to such dangerous behaviors as smoking, overeating, inactivity, and drug or alcohol use, medical education has generally failed to address how these behaviors are influenced by social forces. This new textbook from Dr. Donald A. Barr was designed in response to the growing recognition that physicians need to understand the biosocial sciences behind human behavior in order to be effective practitioners. Introduction to Biosocial Medicine explains the determinants of human behavior and the overwhelming impact of behavior on health. Drawing on both recent and historical research, the book combines the study of the biology of humans with the social and psychological aspects of human behavior. Dr. Barr, a sociologist as well as physician, illustrates how the biology of neurons, the intricacies of the human mind, and the power of broad social forces all influence individual perceptions and responses. Addressing the enormous potential of interventions from medical and public health professionals to alter these patterns of human behavior over time, Introduction to Biosocial Medicine brings necessary depth and perspective to medical training and education.
  define biosocial: Hereditary Julien Larregue, 2024-01-09 Since the 1990s, a growing number of criminal courts around the world have been using expert assessments based on behavioral genetics and neuroscience to evaluate the responsibility and dangerousness of offenders. Despite this rapid circulation, however, we still know very little about the scientific knowledge underlying these expert evaluations. Hereditary traces the historical development of biosocial criminology in the United States from the 1960s to the present, showing how the fate of this movement is intimately linked to that of the field of criminology as a whole. In claiming to identify the biological and environmental causes of so-called antisocial behaviors, biosocial criminologists are redefining the boundary between the normal and the pathological. Julien Larregue examines what is at stake in the development of biosocial criminology. Beyond the origins of delinquency, Larregue addresses the reconfiguration of expertise in contemporary societies, and in particular the territorial struggles between the medical and legal professions. For if the causes of crime are both biological and social, its treatment may call for medical as well as legal solutions.
  define biosocial: The Routledge Companion to Contemporary Anthropology Simon Coleman, Susan B. Hyatt, Ann Kingsolver, 2016-11-25 The Routledge Companion to Contemporary Anthropology is an invaluable guide and major reference source for students and scholars alike, introducing its readers to key contemporary perspectives and approaches within the field. Written by an experienced international team of contributors, with an interdisciplinary range of essays, this collection provides a powerful overview of the transformations currently affecting anthropology. The volume both addresses the concerns of the discipline and comments on its construction through texts, classroom interactions, engagements with various publics, and changing relations with other academic subjects. Persuasively demonstrating that a number of key contemporary issues can be usefully analyzed through an anthropological lens, the contributors cover important topics such as globalization, law and politics, collaborative archaeology, economics, religion, citizenship and community, health, and the environment. The Routledge Companion to Contemporary Anthropology is a fascinating examination of this lively and constantly evolving discipline.
  define biosocial: The Palgrave Handbook of Biology and Society Maurizio Meloni, John Cromby, Des Fitzgerald, Stephanie Lloyd, 2017-10-27 This comprehensive handbook synthesizes the often-fractured relationship between the study of biology and the study of society. Bringing together a compelling array of interdisciplinary contributions, the authors demonstrate how nuanced attention to both the biological and social sciences opens up novel perspectives upon some of the most significant sociological, anthropological, philosophical and biological questions of our era. The six sections cover topics ranging from genomics and epigenetics, to neuroscience and psychology to social epidemiology and medicine. The authors collaboratively present state-of-the-art research and perspectives in some of the most intriguing areas of what can be called biosocial and biocultural approaches, demonstrating how quickly we are moving beyond the acrimonious debates that characterized the border between biology and society for most of the twentieth century. This landmark volume will be an extremely valuable resource for scholars and practitioners in all areas of the social and biological sciences. The chapter 'Ten Theses on the Subject of Biology and Politics: Conceptual, Methodological, and Biopolitical Considerations' is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license via link.springer.com. Versions of the chapters 'The Transcendence of the Social', 'Scrutinizing the Epigenetics Revolution', 'Species of Biocapital, 2008, and Speciating Biocapital, 2017' and 'Experimental Entanglements: Social Science and Neuroscience Beyond Interdisciplinarity' are available open access via third parties. For further information please see license information in the chapters or on link.springer.com.
  define biosocial: Understanding Crime Prevention Billy Henson, Bradford W. Reyns, Jamie A. Snyder, Heidi Scherer, 2024-10-31 This book offers a concise and authoritative overview of the full scope of crime prevention, including foundations, theory, application, and techniques. It details how theory sets the groundwork for the practical application of successful crime prevention strategies and illustrates the foundations of and need for crime prevention, the best approaches to implementing crime prevention programs, and the issues that need to be considered when evaluating crime prevention programs. The book is split into three parts, which include: Theoretical Foundations. This part includes a brief overview of the history and growth of crime prevention as a field of study, and in practice Crime Patterns and Concentration. This part covers the causes and effects of both large- and small-scale crime concentration, with particular focus on the development of major forms of crime concentration, including hotspots, risky facilities, hot products, repeat offenders, and recurring victims Crime Prevention Application. This part is centered on the practice of crime prevention, focusing on the development and implementation of actual crime prevention programs, including the role of both law enforcement and non-law enforcement agencies Understanding Crime Prevention has built-in pedagogical features, including a range of tables, boxed examples, and case studies, as well as discussion questions. This book is essential reading for advanced courses on crime prevention, as well as related courses on policing, crime control, theory, and criminal justice.
  define biosocial: The SAGE Handbook of Cultural Anthropology Lene Pedersen, Lisa Cliggett, 2021-03-31 The SAGE Handbook of Cultural Anthropology is the first instalment of The SAGE Handbook of the Social Sciences series and encompasses major specialities as well as key interdisciplinary themes relevant to the field. Globally, societies are facing major upheaval and change, and the social sciences are fundamental to the analysis of these issues, as well as the development of strategies for addressing them. This handbook provides a rich overview of the discipline and has a future focus whilst using international theories and examples throughout. The SAGE Handbook of Cultural Anthropology is an essential resource for social scientists globally and contains a rich body of chapters on all major topics relevant to the field, whilst also presenting a possible road map for the future of the field. Part 1: Foundations Part 2: Focal Areas Part 3: Urgent Issues Part 4: Short Essays: Contemporary Critical Dynamics
  define biosocial: Biosocial Surveys National Research Council, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Committee on Population, Committee on Advances in Collecting and Utilizing Biological Indicators and Genetic Information in Social Science Surveys, 2008-01-06 Biosocial Surveys analyzes the latest research on the increasing number of multipurpose household surveys that collect biological data along with the more familiar interviewerâ€respondent information. This book serves as a follow-up to the 2003 volume, Cells and Surveys: Should Biological Measures Be Included in Social Science Research? and asks these questions: What have the social sciences, especially demography, learned from those efforts and the greater interdisciplinary communication that has resulted from them? Which biological or genetic information has proven most useful to researchers? How can better models be developed to help integrate biological and social science information in ways that can broaden scientific understanding? This volume contains a collection of 17 papers by distinguished experts in demography, biology, economics, epidemiology, and survey methodology. It is an invaluable sourcebook for social and behavioral science researchers who are working with biosocial data.
  define biosocial: Sociology Rosemary L. Hopcroft, 2016-01-08 In an era of human genome research, environmental challenges, new reproductive technologies, and more, students can benefit from an introductory sociology text that is a biologically informed. This innovative text integrates mainstream sociological research in all areas of sociology with a scientifically-informed model of an evolved, biological human actor. This text allows students to better understand their emotional, social, and institutional worlds. It also illustrates how biological understanding naturally enhances the sociological approach. This grounding of sociology in a biosocial conception of the individual actor is coupled with a comparative approach, as human biology is universal and often reveals itself as variations on themes across human cultures. Tables, Figures, Photos, and the author's concise and remarkably lively style make this a truly enjoyable book to read and teach.
  define biosocial: The Biopsychosocial Model of Health and Disease Derek Bolton, Grant Gillett, 2019-03-28 This open access book is a systematic update of the philosophical and scientific foundations of the biopsychosocial model of health, disease and healthcare. First proposed by George Engel 40 years ago, the Biopsychosocial Model is much cited in healthcare settings worldwide, but has been increasingly criticised for being vague, lacking in content, and in need of reworking in the light of recent developments. The book confronts the rapid changes to psychological science, neuroscience, healthcare, and philosophy that have occurred since the model was first proposed and addresses key issues such as the model’s scientific basis, clinical utility, and philosophical coherence. The authors conceptualise biology and the psychosocial as in the same ontological space, interlinked by systems of communication-based regulatory control which constitute a new kind of causation. These are distinguished from physical and chemical laws, most clearly because they can break down, thus providing the basis for difference between health and disease. This work offers an urgent update to the model’s scientific and philosophical foundations, providing a new and coherent account of causal interactions between the biological, the psychological and social.
  define biosocial: A Political History of Spanish José Del Valle, 2013-08-29 A comprehensive work which offers a new and provocative approach to Spanish from political and historical perspectives.
  define biosocial: The Nurture Versus Biosocial Debate in Criminology Kevin M. Beaver, J.C. Barnes, Brian B. Boutwell, 2014-01-31 The Nurture Versus Biosocial Debate in Criminology: On the Origins of Criminal Behavior and Criminality takes a contemporary approach to address the sociological and the biological positions of human behavior by allowing preeminent scholars in criminology to speak to the effects of each on a range of topics. Kevin M. Beaver, J.C. Barnes, and Brian B. Boutwell aim to facilitate an open and honest debate between the more traditional criminologists who focus primarily on environmental factors and contemporary biosocial criminologists who examine the interplay between biology/genetics and environmental factors.
  define biosocial: Sexuality and Crime Anthony Walsh, 2023-06-16 Written by one of the leading figures in biosocial criminology and evolutionary psychology, this work explores the tight relationship between criminality and indiscriminate sexuality within the framework of life history theory. The underlying thesis is that traits associated with a strong libido, indiscriminately expressed, are intertwined with traits associated with criminal behavior; that is, excessive interest in sexual adventures pursued in an irresponsible way is undergirded by the same individual short- run hedonistic traits that define criminality. While traditional criminology tends to view sexual and criminal behavior as separate domains, many biosocial criminologists, evolutionary psychologists, neuroscientists, and behavioral and molecular geneticists are not at all surprised that a link exists between criminality and sexuality. Research shows that the statistical relationship between indiscriminate sexuality and criminal behavior is stronger than for most other variables associated with crime, although most studies dealing with this relationship are from outside the dominant environmentalist paradigm of criminology. Using life history theory as the theoretical umbrella for exploring the relationship between indiscriminate sexuality and criminal behavior, the book explores how and why criminal behavior is related to hypersexuality. Life history theory, which has a long and fruitful history of use among evolutionary biologists who use it to investigate the relationship between mating strategies and the environment among various species of animals (including humans) is particularly suited to understanding how an exclusive focus on mating effort is related to criminal behavior. This book will be of interest to scholars and students in criminology, psychology, and sociology, and anyone interested in examining the interconnection between biological, psychological, and socio- environmental factors in relation to criminal behavior.
  define biosocial: Routledge Handbook of Deviant Behavior Clifton D. Bryant, 2012-04-27 The Handbook of Deviant Behavior presents a comprehensive, integrative, and accessible overview of the contemporary body of knowledge in the field of social deviance in the twenty-first century. This book addresses the full range of scholarly concerns within this area – including theoretical, methodological, and substantive issues – in over seventy original entries, written by an international mix of recognized scholars. Each of these essays provides insight not only into the historical and sociological evolution of the topic addressed, but also highlights associated notable thinkers, research findings, and key published works for further reference. As a whole, this Handbook undertakes an in depth evaluation of the contemporary state of knowledge within the area of social deviance, and beyond this considers future directions and concerns that will engage scholars in the decades ahead. The inclusion of comparative and cross-cultural examples and discussions, relevant case studies and other pedagogical features make this book an invaluable learning tool for undergraduate and post graduate students in disciplines such as criminology, mental health studies, criminal theory, and contemporary sociology.
  define biosocial: Demography: An Introduction to Population Studies Richard K. Thomas,
  define biosocial: Contesting Intersex Georgiann Davis, 2015-09-11 When sociologist Georgiann Davis was a teenager, her doctors discovered that she possessed XY chromosomes, marking her as intersex. Rather than share this information with her, they withheld the diagnosis in order to protect the development of her gender identity; it was years before Davis would see her own medical records as an adult and learn the truth. Davis' experience is not unusual. Many intersex people feel isolated from one another and violated by medical practices that support conventional notions of the male/female sex binary which have historically led to secrecy and shame about being intersex. Yet, the rise of intersex activism and visibility in the US has called into question the practice of classifying intersex as an abnormality, rather than as a mere biological variation. This shift in thinking has the potential to transform entrenched intersex medical treatment. In Contesting Intersex, Davis draws on interviews with intersex people, their parents, and medical experts to explore the oft-questioned views on intersex in medical and activist communities, as well as the evolution of thought in regards to intersex visibility and transparency. She finds that framing intersex as an abnormality is harmful and can alter the course of one's life. In fact, controversy over this framing continues, as intersex has been renamed a 'disorder of sex development' throughout medicine. This happened, she suggests, as a means for doctors to reassert their authority over the intersex body in the face of increasing intersex activism in the 1990s and feminist critiques of intersex medical treatment. Davis argues the renaming of 'intersex' as a 'disorder of sex development' is strong evidence that the intersex diagnosis is dubious. Within the intersex community, though, disorder of sex development terminology is hotly disputed; some prefer not to use a term which pathologizes their bodies, while others prefer to think of intersex in scientific terms. Although terminology is currently a source of tension within the movement, Davis hopes intersex activists and their allies can come together to improve the lives of intersex people, their families, and future generations. However, for this to happen, the intersex diagnosis, as well as sex, gender, and sexuality, needs to be understood as socially constructed phenomena. -- Publisher's description
  define biosocial: Conducting Biosocial Surveys National Research Council, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Committee on Population, Committee on National Statistics, Panel on Collecting, Storing, Accessing, and Protecting Biological Specimens and Biodata in Social Surveys, 2010-10-02 Recent years have seen a growing tendency for social scientists to collect biological specimens such as blood, urine, and saliva as part of large-scale household surveys. By combining biological and social data, scientists are opening up new fields of inquiry and are able for the first time to address many new questions and connections. But including biospecimens in social surveys also adds a great deal of complexity and cost to the investigator's task. Along with the usual concerns about informed consent, privacy issues, and the best ways to collect, store, and share data, researchers now face a variety of issues that are much less familiar or that appear in a new light. In particular, collecting and storing human biological materials for use in social science research raises additional legal, ethical, and social issues, as well as practical issues related to the storage, retrieval, and sharing of data. For example, acquiring biological data and linking them to social science databases requires a more complex informed consent process, the development of a biorepository, the establishment of data sharing policies, and the creation of a process for deciding how the data are going to be shared and used for secondary analysis-all of which add cost to a survey and require additional time and attention from the investigators. These issues also are likely to be unfamiliar to social scientists who have not worked with biological specimens in the past. Adding to the attraction of collecting biospecimens but also to the complexity of sharing and protecting the data is the fact that this is an era of incredibly rapid gains in our understanding of complex biological and physiological phenomena. Thus the tradeoffs between the risks and opportunities of expanding access to research data are constantly changing. Conducting Biosocial Surveys offers findings and recommendations concerning the best approaches to the collection, storage, use, and sharing of biospecimens gathered in social science surveys and the digital representations of biological data derived therefrom. It is aimed at researchers interested in carrying out such surveys, their institutions, and their funding agencies.
  define biosocial: Genetics and Criminal Behavior David Wasserman, Robert Wachbroit, 2001-01-15 In this 2001 volume a group of leading philosophers address some of the basic conceptual, methodological and ethical issues raised by genetic research into criminal behavior. The essays explore the complexities of tracing any genetic influence on criminal, violent or antisocial behavior; the varieties of interpretations to which evidence of such influences is subject; and the relevance of such influences to the moral and legal appraisal of criminal conduct. The distinctive features of this collection are: first, that it advances public discussion while clarifying the debate about genetic research and criminal behavior; second, that it explains scientific controversies about behavioral genetics in lucid, non-technical terms; third, that it demonstrates how the possible findings on genetics and crime bear on fundamental issues of moral and criminal responsibility. The volume will be of particular value to philosophers concerned with applied ethics (especially bioethics), behavioral geneticists, psychologists, legal theorists, and criminologists.
  define biosocial: Cannabis Criminology Johannes Wheeldon, Jon Heidt, 2022-12-30 Cannabis Criminology explores the prohibition, decriminalization, and liberalization of cannabis policy through the lens of criminological and sociological theory, essential concepts, and cannabis research. It does so by focusing on five thematic areas: law, society, and social control; police and policing; race, ethnicity, and criminalization; the economics of cannabis; and cannabis use and crime. It is the first book on cannabis since President Joe Biden signed an executive order in 2022 to pardon citizens and lawful permanent residents convicted of simple cannabis possession under federal law and DC statute. Cannabis is now legal in some form in 37 US states. To understand the reform of cannabis policy and the challenges to come, we first need to understand the connections between cannabis and criminology. The book links key areas in past and contemporary cannabis research to criminological and sociological theories, including key concepts, emergent concerns, and new directions. Based on an up-to-date review of this growing area of research, the book outlines a research program based on five essential thematic areas. Introducing cannabis as a critical case study in moral-legal re-negotiation, it outlines how cannabis prohibition has influenced cannabis around the world. Five discrete chapters focus on thematic areas, criminological and sociological theories, define essential concepts, and provide research focused on law, society, and social control (Chapter 2), police and policing cannabis (Chapter 3), race, ethnicity, and criminalization (Chapter 4), the economics of cannabis (Chapter 5), and cannabis and crime (Chapter 6). The book concludes by presenting new ways to engage prohibitionist thinking, by challenging myths, embracing social media, and developing a duty of care to guide future cannabis researchers and explicitly involve people who use cannabis. Cannabis Criminology will be of interest to a variety of readers, including students and scholars from a range of backgrounds studying drug use, drug policy, cannabis legalization, and other drug-related issues. It will also appeal to policymakers who want to know more about cannabis legalization and drug prohibition, those working in the criminal justice system, and social work professionals. Due to its accessible style, people involved in the cannabis industry, as well as cannabis users may also find the book interesting.
  define biosocial: The Measurement of Emotions Robert Plutchik, Henry Kellerman, 2013-09-24 Emotion: Theory, Research, and Experience, Volume 4: The Measurement of Emotion provides an examination of the key issue of how to measure emotion. The book contains articles that present different approaches to the study of emotional measurement. Contributors focus on such topics as mood measurement; cross-cultural examination of triggers of emotion; possible dimensions that underlie the language of affect; measurement of emotions in lower animals; and measuring emotions and their derivatives. Psychologists, psychiatrists, behavioral psychologists, teachers, and students will find the book a good reference book.
  define biosocial: Disability Romel W. Mackelprang, Richard O. Salsgiver, 2016 Disability is a tool for human service practitioners to use in understanding disability from an empowerment/social model perspective. The text addresses policy, theory, description, and practice from a strengths-based viewpoint, stressing disability as a difference rather than as dysfunction. The book establishes the historical and societal context in which those with disabilities are marginalized, discusses the major groupings of disabilities, and offers a model for assessment and practice.
  define biosocial: Criminological Theory J. Robert Lilly, Francis T. Cullen, Richard A. Ball, 2011 Offering a rich introduction to how scholars analyze crime, this Fifth Edition of the authors’ clear, accessible text moves readers beyond often-mistaken common sense knowledge of crime to a deeper understanding of the importance of theory in shaping crime control policies. This thoroughly revised edition covers traditional and contemporary theory within a larger sociological and historical context and now includes new sources that assess the empirical status of the major theories, as well as updated coverage of crime control policies and their connection to criminological theory.
  define biosocial: Emotional Development Peter J. LaFreniere, 2000 Emotional Development is an area that has seen an explosion of research over the past 15 years. Peter LaFreniere's timely book is the first text to synthesize this sub-field in an accessible text aimed explicitly at both advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students. One of the central themes of this book is that emotions must be understood in an integrative way because of their complex connections with biological, cognitive, and social processes, all of which undergo development. Because of this essential unity, emotional development is discussed, not as a separate aspect of the self, but as intimately linked to cognitive, linguistic, social, and personality development. EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: A BIOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE defines and describes a biosocial perspective on emotional development. This biosocial perspective emphasizes the vital functions that emotions serve, illustrating the necessity of uniting nature and nurture in order to more fully understand the development and function of human emotions..
  define biosocial: Understanding Victimology Shelly Clevenger, Jordana N. Navarro, Catherine D. Marcum, George E. Higgins, 2018-02-28 Understanding Victimology: An Active-Learning Approach explains what the field of victimology is—including its major theoretical perspectives and research methods—and provides insight into the dynamics of various offline and online crimes from the victims’ vantage point. It is the only textbook to provide numerous innovative active learning exercises to enhance and reinforce student learning, and it addresses important contemporary topics that have thus far not been covered by other victimology texts, including identity theft, hate crimes, and terrorism. This unique and relevant work is ideal for students, academics, and practitioners who are interested in a comprehensive introduction to victimology.
  define biosocial: Being a Sperm Donor Sebastian Mohr, 2018-08-24 What does it mean to be a man in our biomedical day and age? Through ethnographic explorations of the everyday lives of Danish sperm donors, Being a Sperm Donor explores how masculinity and sexuality are reconfigured in a time in which the norms and logics of (reproductive) biomedicine have become ordinary. It investigates men’s moral reasoning regarding donation, their handling of transgressive experiences at the sperm bank, and their negotiations of gender, sexuality, intimacy, and relatedness, showing how the socio-cultural and political dimensions of (reproductive) biomedicine become intertwined with men’s intimate sense of self.
  define biosocial: Evolutionary Criminology and Cooperation Evelyn Svingen, 2023-07-27 This book develops an evolutionary theory of crime. Both evolutionary theory and neurocriminology are growing fields that are attracting more and more interest for criminologists and wider fields alike. This book summarises important readings that relate to retribution and punishment and presents some neurocriminological findings. In addition, the book introduces a new methodology for the study of crime: a game theory experiment adapted from the field of behavioural economics. Overall, the book synthesises the key crime literature, presents a new theory of crime in a new field of evolutionary criminology and the methodology to study it, and provides empirical results in support of the theory. For any evolutionary and neuroscientist interested in deviance, this book offers a new model which is testable using more complex methods such as MRI scanners and survival simulations.
  define biosocial: Biosocial Anthropology Robin Fox, Association of Social Anthropologists of the Commonwealth, 1975
  define biosocial: Bio-social Dimensions of Ageing Arun P. Bali, 2000 Contributed articles with special reference to India.
  define biosocial: Applied Consumer Psychology' 2005 Ed. ,
  define biosocial: International Surrogacy as Disruptive Industry in Southeast Asia Andrea Whittaker, 2018-12-03 Andrea Whittaker traces the development of international surrogacy industry and its movement across Southeast Asia following a sequence of governmental bans in India, Nepal, Thailand, and Cambodia. The book offers a nuanced and sympathetic examination of the industry from the perspectives of the people involved in it.
  define biosocial: The Status of the Family in Law and Bioethics Roy Gilbar, 2017-11-28 Where do a doctor's responsibilities lie in communicating diagnostic and predictive genetic information to a patient's family members? On the one hand, a patient may wish to retain confidentiality while the relatives seek information; on the other, a patient may wish to share the information while the relatives would rather not know. This volume investigates the doctor's professional legal and ethical obligations in the context of these two familial tensions. The examination is conducted within the liberal-communitarian debate, whereby the two philosophies hold different perceptions of the individual and the relationship he or she has with others. Within this theoretical framework, the book examines the approach taken by English medical law and ethics to the communication of genetic information to family members. Legally, the focus is on tort law and the law of confidentiality. Ethically, it concentrates on the approach taken by the bioethical literature, and more specifically by codes of ethics and professional guidelines.
  define biosocial: A Functional Theory of Cognition Norman H. Anderson, 2014-03-05 A unified, general theory of functional cognition is presented in this book. Its generality appears in the titles of the 13 chapters listed below. Its unity appears in the effectiveness of the same methods and concepts across all of these areas. Generality and unity both stem from the foundation axiom of purposiveness. The axiom of purposiveness has been made effective through capability for functional measurement of values, which embody the goal-directed character of purposiveness. This measurement capability is based on the general cognitive algebra established in information integration theory. Functional theory can thus be made precise and effective near the level of everyday phenomenology. The book is written at a relatively simple level, directed at readers in every field of psychology. Among its characteristics are: * self-sufficient theory near the level of everyday phenomenology; * foundation on structure of the internal world; and * solid grounding in experimental analysis.
  define biosocial: Motivation Eva Dreikurs Ferguson, Beth Eva Ferguson Wee, 2000 Motivation: A Biosocial and Cognitive Integration of Motivation and Emotion shows how motivation relates to biological, social, and cognitive issues. A wide range of topics concerning motivation and emotion are considered, including hunger and thirst, circadian and other biological rhythms, fear and anxiety, anger and aggression, achievement, attachment, and love. Goals and incentives are discussed in their application to work, child rearing, and personality. This book reviews an unusual breadth of research and provides the reader with the scientific basis for understanding motivation as a major variable in human and animal life. It also offers insights that can be applied to immediate and practical problems. Various areas are examined in depth, such as the relationships between reward, incentives, and motivation. The discussion of biological rhythms shows that humans and animals are more alert at certain times than others, and these rhythms also affect performance. The topics in the book span the ways in which motivation connects with many aspects of contemporary psychology. Basic issues of design and methodology, details of research procedures, and important aspects of definition and measurement, are discussed throughout the book. Motivation: A Biosocial and Cognitive Integration of Motivation and Emotion examines the way motivation functions and how it interacts with other important variables: physiological processes; learning, attention, and memory; rewards and stressors; the role of culture as well as species characteristics. The presentation makes clear in what important ways motivation, as a construct, contributes to the scientific understanding of behavior. The book offers advanced undergraduate and graduate students a broad overview of motivation. It also is of value for the professional psychologist who seeks an integrated overview of the classical and contemporary literature in the field of motivation. The book provides information on a broad range of issues and thus can be used also as supplementary reading for courses on cognition and biological as well as social psychology.
  define biosocial: Joints and Connective Tissues Kerryn Phelps, Craig Hassed, 2012-10-31 Joints and Connective Tissues - General Practice: The Integrative Approach Series. In order to diagnose and manage the patient presenting with musculoskeletal symptoms, it is important to distinguish whether the pathology is arising primarily in the so-called hard tissues (such as bone) or the soft tissues (such as cartilage, disc, synovium, capsule, muscle, tendon, tendon sheath). It is also important to distinguish between the two most common causes of musculoskeletal symptoms, namely inflammatory and degenerative.
  define biosocial: The Politics of Conducting Research in Africa Lyn Johnstone, 2018-08-29 This edited volume investigates the ethical and emotional challenges of conducting fieldwork in Africa. It reflects on difficulties researchers face such as objectivity, access, gender issues and information risks. Focusing across a wide range of states and themes, the project makes an original contribution and builds upon existing strengths and insights in various disciplines by presenting research-practical insights from contemporary cases of fieldwork. As such, the book is an accessible and useful guide for students and scholars alike.