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WJEC Criminology at PHS > Unit 2 AC2.1 AC3.2 Describe/evaluate biological theories of criminality > Flashcards

Unit 2 AC2.1 AC3.2 Describe/evaluate biological theories of criminality Flashcards

1
Q

Physiological theories - Lombroso: Born Criminals - Key ideas

A

Criminals are physically different from non-criminals.

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2
Q

Physiological theories - Lombroso: Born Criminals - Study

A

Measured many criminals’ heads and faces.

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3
Q

Physiological theories - Lombroso: Born Criminals - Findings

A

Criminals more likely to have large jaws, long arms, aquiline noses.

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4
Q

Physiological theories - Lombroso: Born Criminals - Atavism

A

Criminals are throwbacks to primitive stage of evolution – pre-social, impulsive, reduced sensitivity to pain.

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5
Q

Physiological theories - Lombroso: Born Criminals - Further work

A

Insane criminals, epileptic criminals. Criminaloids – product of environment.

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6
Q

Physiological theories - Lombroso: Born Criminals -Strength

A

First person to study crime scientifically.

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7
Q

Physiological theories - Lombroso: Born Criminals -Strength

A

Shows imoportance of clinical and historical records of criminals.

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8
Q

Physiological theories - Lombroso: Born Criminals -Strength

A

Helps to focus on how prevention not punishment.

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9
Q

Physiological theories - Lombroso: Born Criminals -Limitation

A

No further evidence to link facial features and criminality.

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10
Q

Physiological theories - Lombroso: Born Criminals -Limitation

A

Did not compare with control group of non-criminals.

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11
Q

Physiological theories - Lombroso: Born Criminals -Limitation

A

Racist. Equates criminals with savages/ non-western society.

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12
Q

Physiological theories - Sheldon: Somatotypes theory - Key idea

A

Somatype (body type) is related to criminality.

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13
Q

Physiological theories - Sheldon: Somatotypes theory -Study

A

Looked at body types and compared with likelihood of criminality.

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14
Q

Physiological theories - Sheldon: Somatotypes theory -Findings

A

Mesomorphic somatype most likely to be criminal.

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15
Q

Physiological theories - Sheldon: Somatotypes theory -Reason?

A

Attracted by risk-taking and their physique and assertiveness are important assets in crime.

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16
Q

Physiological theories - Sheldon: Somatotypes theory -Strength

A

Other studies replicate findings.

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17
Q

Physiological theories - Sheldon: Somatotypes theory -Strength

A

Most serious delinquents had most mesomorphic bodies.

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18
Q

Physiological theories - Sheldon: Somatotypes theory -Limitation

A

Criminality likely to be a combination of biology and environment.

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19
Q

Physiological theories - Sheldon: Somatotypes theory -Limitation

A

Mesomorphic build may be result of criminality.

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20
Q

Physiological theories - Sheldon: Somatotypes theory -Limitation

A

Social class might be true cause of offending and mesomorphy.

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21
Q

Physiological theories - Sheldon: Somatotypes theory -Limitation

A

Mesomorphs more likely to be labelled.

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22
Q

Atavism

A

The idea that criminals are ‘throwbacks’ to more primitive stage of evolution.

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23
Q

Endomorph

A

Rounded, soft bodied, lacking muscle. Sociable, relaxed, outgoing.

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24
Q

Ectomorph

A

Thin, fragile, lacking fat and muscle. Flat chested, narrow hips and shoulders, thin face. Self conscious, emotionally restrained, thoughtful.

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25
Q

Mesomorph

A

Muscular, hard-bodied, little fat, strong limbs, broad shoulder, narrow waist. Adventurous, sensation-seeking, assertive, domineering.

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26
Q

Physiological theories

A

These biological theories claim that the physical features of criminals differ from non-criminals.

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27
Q

Biological theories

A

Criminals are biologically different from non-criminals and this difference causes them to commit crime.

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28
Q

Genetic theories - Twin and Adoption Studies - Key idea: Twins

A

If crime is genetic – identical (Mz) twins should have identical criminality

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29
Q

Genetic theories - Twin and Adoption Studies -Twin study findings

A

Christiansen: Concordance in criminality Mz = 52% vs Dz = 22%

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30
Q

Genetic theories - Twin and Adoption Studies -Key idea: Adoption

A

Adoptees share environment of adoptive parents/genes of biological parents. If genetic, criminality will match biological parents more.

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31
Q

Genetic theories - Twin and Adoption Studies -Adoption Study findings

A

Mednick et al: birth parent concordance = 20% vs. adopted parent concordance = 14.7%

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32
Q

Genetic theories - Twin and Adoption Studies -Strength

A

Twin & adoption studies give some support to genetic explanations

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33
Q

Genetic theories - Twin and Adoption Studies -Strength

A

Adoption studies overcome the problem of isolating genes and environment

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34
Q

Genetic theories - Twin and Adoption Studies -Strength

A

Research design of Adoption studies is logical (nature vs nurture)

35
Q

Genetic theories - Twin and Adoption Studies -Limitation

A

If criminality was only genetic MZ twins would have 100% concordance.

36
Q

Genetic theories - Twin and Adoption Studies -Limitation

A

It is impossible to isolate genetic effects fully from environmental ones.

37
Q

Genetic theories - Twin and Adoption Studies -Limitation

A

Adopted children often placed with similar families to their birth family

38
Q

Genetic theories - Jacob’s XYY study - Key idea

A

XYY syndrome in males makes them genetically predisposed to criminality.

39
Q

Genetic theories - Jacob’s XYY study - Study

A

Compared rate of XXY in imprisoned criminals with general population.

40
Q

Genetic theories - Jacob’s XYY study -

A

Higher than average proportion of inmates had XYY

41
Q

Genetic theories - Jacob’s XYY study - Features of XXY

A

Very tall, well-built, low intelligence, high aggression, violent.

42
Q

Genetic theories - Jacob’s XYY study - Strength

A

Jacob et al found association with XXY and violent prisoners

43
Q

Genetic theories - Jacob’s XYY study - Strength

A

Price & Watmore found links with XYY and property crime

44
Q

Genetic theories - Jacob’s XYY study - Limitation

A

Having the syndrome doesn’t mean that is the cause of crime

45
Q

Genetic theories - Jacob’s XYY study - Limitation

A

XXY men fit stereotype of violent offenders – labelling theory

46
Q

Genetic theories - Jacob’s XYY study - Limitation

A

Low intelligence of XYY may give higher chance of being caught

47
Q

Genetic theories - Jacob’s XYY study - Limitation

A

Syndrome is too rare to explain much crime

48
Q

Genetic explanation

A

Criminality is the result of genes inherited from biological parents

49
Q

Monozygotic

A

Identical twins that share 100% of the same genes

50
Q

Dizygotic

A

Non-identical twins that share only 50% of the same genes (like ordinary siblings)

51
Q

Environmental explanation

A

Criminality is the result of the surroundings a child grows up in

52
Q

Chromosome

A

Made from DNA and protein. Carry genetic information we inherit from our parents. Most people have 23 pairs.

53
Q

Super-male

A

Another term for XYY syndrome. Those affected carry an extra Y (male) chromosome on one of their 23 pairs.

54
Q

Brain injuries and disorders - Injuries: Key idea

A

Brian injury can change personality and are more common in prisoners

55
Q

Brain injuries and disorders -Case study

A

Phineas Gage- metal rod through the brain. Survived but personality changed.

56
Q

Brain injuries and disorders -Disorders: Key idea

A

Some brain diseases have been linked with criminal or anti-social behaviour. Dementia, Encephalitis Lethargica’ brain tumours, Huntington’s chorea.

57
Q

Brain injuries and disorders -EEG readings

A

Some studies show abnormal EEG readings in psychopathic criminals

58
Q

Brain injuries and disorders -Strength

A

A few extreme cases do show brain injury leads to changes in behaviour including criminality.

59
Q

Brain injuries and disorders -Strength

A

Some correlation between abnormal EEG readings and psychopathy

60
Q

Brain injuries and disorders -Strength

A

Prisoners are more likely than non-prisoners to have a brain injury.

61
Q

Brain injuries and disorders -Limitation

A

Crimes caused by brain injury or disease are rare. Original personality more important.

62
Q

Brain injuries and disorders -Limitation

A

Abnormal EEG not necessarily the cause and not found in all psychopaths

63
Q

Brain injuries and disorders -Limitation

A

Prisoner’s higher likelihood of brain injury may be affect of criminality mot cause – e.g. getting into fights.

64
Q

Biochemical explanations - Key idea

A

Biochemical substances and processes linked to criminality

65
Q

Biochemical explanations -Sex Hormones: Males

A

Ellis and Coontz: testosterone peaks puberty to early 20s – same as criminality.

66
Q

Biochemical explanations -Sex Hormones: Females

A

PMT, PND, Lactation all used as defence in court – affected mood/self-control.

67
Q

Biochemical explanations -Blood sugar

A

Hypoglycaemia linked to aggression

68
Q

Biochemical explanations -Substance abuse

A

Prescription and illegal drugs and alcohol linked to crime. Can lead to increased aggression.

69
Q

Biochemical explanations -Other substances

A

Lead, tartrazine linked to hyperactivity. Vit B deficiency linked to erratic behaviour.

70
Q

Biochemical explanations -Strength

A

Biochemical factors recognised by the courts

71
Q

Biochemical explanations -Strength

A

Sex hormones, alcohol, drugs all known to affect mood/behaviour

72
Q

Biochemical explanations -Limitation

A

Biochemical processes may need an environmental trigger too

73
Q

Biochemical explanations -Limitation

A

Some studies find testosterone not linked to physical aggression

74
Q

Biochemical explanations -Limitation

A

Infanticide may be caused by isolation rather than hormones

75
Q

General criticisms of biological theories - Environmental factors

A

Biology may give potentially criminal characteristics but need environmental trigger too.

76
Q

General criticisms of biological theories -Sample bias

A

Only studying criminals means we don’t know about those who got away – can’t genralise

77
Q

General criticisms of biological theories -Gender bias

A

Most biological research only tells us about male criminality

78
Q

General criticisms of biological theories -Crime is a social construct

A

Biological theories look for universal explanations, but crime varies over time, place and culture

79
Q

EEG

A

Electroencephalogram – measures brain activity

80
Q

Testosterone

A

Male sex hormone linked to aggression, murder and rape

81
Q

PMT

A

Pre-menstrual tension – fluctuation in female sex hormones

82
Q

PND

A

Post-natal depression – used as defence in infanticide

83
Q

Lactation

A

Breast-feeding. Used as defence in female crimes.

84
Q

Hypoglycaemia

A

Low blood-sugar. Linked to aggression and alcohol abuse

WJEC Criminology at PHS (30 decks)

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