2.1 Flashcards
lombroso’s born criminal theory
argued that criminals were physically different from non criminals. concluded that they had distinct features such as large jaws, high cheekbones, high eyebrow arches, very long arms, large eye sockets and acute eyesight.
atavism
primitive stage of evolution. pre-social, unable to control their impulses and had a reduced sensitivity to pain (tattoos). They were like savages, and in a more primitive society it would’ve been normal, but it is abnormal in modern society
sheldon’s somatotypes
saw criminals as physically different from non-criminals; certain body types or somatotypes are linked to criminal behaviour.
endomorph
rounded, soft and tending to fat, lacking muscle or tone, with wide hips. Personality is sociable, relaxed, comfortable and outgoing.
ectomorph
thin and fragile, lacking both fat and muscle. flat chested, with narrow hips and shoulders, a thin face, and high forehead, personality: self-conscious, fragile inward looking, emotionally restrained and thoughtful.
mesomorph
muscular and hard bodied, with very little fat and strong limbs, broad shoulders and a narrow waist. personality: adventurous, sensation seeking, assertive and domineering, and they enjoy physical activity.
twin studies
MZ twins share same genes so if 1 twin is criminal, the other is ought to be. evidence=christiansen’s study; 3586 twin pairs=52% conc rate.
adoption studies
compare children to adopted and biological parents. an adopted child shares the same environment as their adoptive parents, but the same genes as their biological parents. If we find that the adoptee’s behaviour regarding criminality is more like their birth parent’s behaviour, this would support a genetic explanation.
jacob’s XYY study
Men with XYY tend to be very tall and well-built and of low intelligence. Jacob et al = that men with XYY syndrome are more aggressive and violent than other males. study of imprisoned criminals and psych patients had it most.
brain injuries and disorders
Phineas Gage; personality changed after a major brain injury. Some studies have shown that prisoners are more likely than non-prisoners to have suffered brain injuries.
sex hormones
over/under production of hormones=emotional disturbances=criminal behaviour. Males are more aggressive than females. young men experience peaks in criminal behaviour + testosterone production at around the same ages. When they marry, men experience a decline in both testosterone production and criminal offending.
PMT
Pre-menstrual tension, post-natal depression and lactation= partial defences for women charged with crimes (shoplifting to infanticide), on the grounds that the hormones involved have affected the defendants’ judgement, mood or self-control.
blood sugar levels
Hypoglycaemia triggers aggressive reactions. Studies show a link between low blood sugar and alcohol abuse. Drinking large quantities of alcohol= hypoglycaemia= increase aggression
substance abuse
Saunders calculated that alcohol played a significant role in approx. 1000 arrests per day. USA; Flanzer estimated that 80% of family violence cases involved alcohol. Cocaine+crack=closely linked to violence, whereas cannabis, heroin and MDMA tend to reduce aggression.
