A Pioneer Vilified: The Early Years of Controversy

Wouter Buikhuisen, who passed away last Tuesday at the age of 91, endured years of harassment and threats due to his groundbreaking research exploring the biosocial roots of criminal behaviour. His work, which challenged the prevailing emphasis on environmental factors in the 1970s and 80s, sparked considerable controversy and led to his ostracization from the academic community.

Buikhuisen’s focus on nature over nurture in explaining criminal tendencies was seen as a direct affront to the established consensus. This ultimately resulted in him being branded a Nazi criminologist and forced him to seek refuge as an antique dealer in Spain. It wasn’t until 2015 that he returned to the Netherlands.

Early Life and Academic Beginnings

Buikhuisen’s early life was profoundly shaped by his experiences during World War II. As a young boy, he was interned in a Japanese concentration camp on Java with his mother and brother, while his father was forced into labor and perished during the construction of the Burma Railway.

Upon returning to the Netherlands after the war, Buikhuisen pursued his academic interests, earning his PhD in 1965 with a dissertation on Backgrounds of nozem behavior. In this work, he introduced the concept of the provo, derived from provocation, to understand the rise of anti-authoritarian youth movements. His research suggested that these young people, lacking constructive leisure activities, sought challenges elsewhere. The term provo was quickly adopted by these groups. Subsequently, Buikhuisen became a professor of criminology at the University of Groningen and a researcher at the Ministry of Justice.

The Leiden Years: A Focus on the Brain

In 1978, Buikhuisen’s career took a pivotal turn when he became a professor of criminology at Leiden University. He aimed to bridge the gap between social sciences and exact sciences,incorporating neuropsychology,endocrinology,and psychophysiology into his research.

His research centered on the amygdala, a brain region crucial for influencing behavior. Buikhuisen posited that the proper growth of this brain area was essential for shaping behavior later in life. This focus on biological factors, however, ignited a firestorm of criticism.

The “Bruinhuisen Affair”: A Descent into personal Attacks

The controversy reached its peak when buikhuisen proposed a research project investigating the role of heredity in criminal behavior. The suggestion that genetics could predispose individuals to criminal behavior triggered widespread condemnation, extending far beyond academic circles.

The media amplified the criticism, leading to the so-called Bruinhuisen affair. Journalist Hugo Brandt Corstius,writing under the pseudonym Piet Grijs,relentlessly attacked Buikhuisen in numerous columns in Vrij Nederland,later compiled into a book titled Buikhuisen,Stupid and Bad.

The personal attacks were relentless, with Buikhuisen becoming the target of harassment and threats. Demonstrators threw smoke bombs at his inaugural lecture, feces were deposited in his mailbox, and he received bomb threats.

In the 1980s, Leiden University dissolved the criminology department and revoked Buikhuisen’s teaching credentials. On his doctor’s advice, he left academia and relocated to Spain.

Rehabilitation and Legacy: A Shift in Outlook

More than two decades later, Buikhuisen’s reputation began to recover. Following a visit from Rector Carel Stolker, Leiden University reconciled with the scientist. His once-controversial views were gradually accepted, and his work was even praised by other criminologists.

Today, the study of brain biology in relation to criminal behavior is a thriving field. For example, research published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry has identified specific genes associated with increased risk of antisocial behavior. These findings support the idea that biological factors can play a role in criminal behavior, although environmental factors are also important.

I knew: someday I get right, Buikhuisen said in a 2010 interview with Vrij Nederland.

Buikhuisen’s journey from vilification to vindication highlights the challenges faced by researchers who dare to challenge established paradigms. His work paved the way for a more nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between nature and nurture in shaping human behavior, particularly in the context of crime.