The Constitutional Theory of Criminality

Abstract

The term constitution has several different meanings, although there is of course some general underlying consensus about its provenance. It is defined in the Encyclopaedia of Psychology (H. J. Eysenck, Arnold, & Meili, 1972) as

“human reactive potential and reaction style (form and performance). It is grounded on heredity and Anlagen or fundamental dispositions, and those acquired in early childhood, or more rarely at a later date, and can be determined as a type or an individual constitution.” (p. 213)