A Biopsychosocial Model of Female Criminality: Implications for Assessment and Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches

Female delinquency is a complex phenomenon that calls for a transdisciplinary, biopsychosocial model of explanation. In this chapter, we organize the phenomena associated with female criminality in the context of a tentative multilevel meta-model. Offending behavior is explained as a result of critical developmental patterns of interaction and information processing that emerge between multiple layers of biopsychosocial structure. Important etiological factors, risk characteristics and treatment goals that are specific for women are summarized. Findings of the cognitive, affective and social neurosciences as well as of behavioral and neurobiological genetics are interleaved with this model to expand the traditional criminological scope. Neuropsychological constructs help to bridge the gap between biological and psychosocial theories and contribute to a better understanding of critical intrapersonal and social processes.