2B: Relevance of theories- Physiological, Psycological Sociological Flashcards
What does recent evidence suggest a link between
Recent evidence suggests a link between men with low heart rate and an increased risk of criminality
What did research in Sweden look at
Looked at heart rates which were measured in recruits at medical exams as part of mandatory service. More than 700,000 results were considered from men who were roughly 18 years old
Evidence found that those men in the LRHR category were
- 39% more likely to be convicted of a violent offence including murder assault and arson
- 25% more likely to be convicted of non - violent offences
- 39% more likely to be involved in an assault or accident … than those who had a HRHR (836pm or more)
What did the research in Sweden take into account
Research took into account those factors which could affect RHR levels including height weight and fineness levels and still found that the results gained were not negatively impacted even when considering all of these
What are teens who have a low resting heart rate at increased risk of
Teens who have a low resting heart rate may be at increased of committing violent crimes as adults
What do people with low resting heart rate have unusually low levels of
Have unusually low levels of arousal or the feeling of being awake and alert - this may be linked to those people seeking stimulating experiences such as risk and crime to boost their arousal
What do people with low resting heart rate have less reaction to
Those with low resting heart rate have less of reaction to mildly stressful experiences like getting your heart rate checked meaning they are fearless and less afraid of risks and consequences
What other factors affect those with low resting heart rate
There are likely other environmental factors that play a role in the link Eg these people may have trouble with their peers, get involved with groups
What are makes with low resting heart rate more likely to be at risk of
Males with a low resting heart rate were at significantly greater risk of engaging in stalking behaviour also linked to the arousal theory more likely to exhibit impulsive behaviour
What do other studies suggest
Other studies suggest that crime could be linked to low serotonin levels in the brain
What do serotonin levels help the brain to control
Serotonin levels help the brain to control behaviour and is believed to help explain why some oriole are more prone to aggression, with low levels the messages between the amygdala and frontal lobes are weakened perhaps leading to more impulsive behaviour
What did low serotonin levels
Low brain serotonin made communications between specific regions of the emotional limbic system of the brain and the frontal lobes weaker. Compared to those present under normal levels
What are low serotonin levels linked
Low serotonin levels are also linked to a host of psychiatric afflictions other than impulsive aggression some of these include migraines, pathological shyness, obsessive - compulsive disorder, anxiety restless leg syndrome, gambling, depression and several addictions (food, sex, drugs)
Who was cesare lambroso
Cesare lambroso was one of the first to link crime to human biology. He argued that the physical shape of the head and face determined the ‘born criminal’
What were the number of genetically determined characteristics which were often found in criminals :
- Large saw
- high cheek bones
- large cars
- extra toes and fingers
- extra nipples
- insensitivity to pain
How representative was lambrosos research
Research was carried out amongst inmates in Italian prisons. He was studying very poor people who’s physical development had been affected by poverty and poor nutrition. Also not everyone who commits crime ends up in prison. Lombrosos research was not representative
What did William sheldon
William sheldon believed that people could be classified into 3 body shapes, which corresponds with three different types of personality
What did William sheldon find using a correlation study
Using a correlation study he found that many convicts were mesomorphic (aggressive and adventurous) and least likely to be ectomorphic (introverted and restrained)
How was William Sheldons study carried out
The study he carried out didn’t include women and the groups he tested were too different from each other
What can Brain damage in childhood and early adulthood increase
Brain damage in childhood and early adulthood may increase the likelihood of criminal behaviour. This typically lowers inhibitions or emotional control affecting the way we respond to triggers in the environment.
Which group has a higher amount of brain damage
There is a higher amount of brain damage amongst offenders in custody
Which types of traumatic brain injury can increase anti social behaviour and criminality
Certain types of traumatic brain injury seem too increase the risk of offending behaviour and there is increasing evidence that brain tumours, epilepsy, levels of chemical neurotransmitters in the brain and many other biological factors can increase anti social behaviour and criminality
What does failure to form an association between precede criminal activity for
Failure to form an association between a loud noise and fear at the age of t here years appeared to precede criminal activity in adulthood
What do in some cases men have an extra of
In general men are born with an XY chromosome in some cases people have an additional Y chromosome
What did jacobs et Al suggest
Jacobs et Al (1965) suggested that men with additional Y syndrome were more aggressive than those without
How many people in prison and the general public have the additional Y chromosome
15 in 1000 people within prison have this additional Y chromosome while 1 per 1000 people have it in the general public
What is an example of someone with the extra Y chromosome
Daniel Hugon a killer, was on trial in 1968 to be sentenced. His psychiatrist testified that because of his extra Y chromosome he was “abnormal”. The court found hugon sans yet took into account the extra Y chromosome when sentencing
What is a disadvantage of the XYY gene
Not everyone with XYY commits crime or act aggressively. The theory doesn’t take into account environmental factors I.e upbringing
What is an advantage of XYY gene
Can explain why some people have aggressive behaviour
Why is ADHD theorised to have an effect on crime
ADHD is theorise to have an effect on crime as it could make them incapable of moral control and because of cortical under arousal they are constantly seeking stimulation. ADHD is a result of genetic predisposition or damage at birth
Which gender with adhd is more likely to be a criminal convict
Males with ADHD showed higher absolute risk for criminal convictions this means men with ADHD are a higher risk than women with ADHD for criminal convictions
How many prisoners in the uk have ADHD
A study has shown that 1 in 4 uk prisoners has ADHD. This is 5-10 times higher than the general population within prison someone with ADHD is up to 8 times more likely to be involved in incidents involving aggression as a result of their condition, this is why it’s important for prisoners to be assessed before they enter prison
What is an advantage of ADHD theory
It has been proven that treating prisoners with ADHD and psychological management techniques or medicine has shown a decline in criminal behaviour. It reduced criminal activity in men by 54% and women 41%
What is a disadvantage of ADHD theory
Not every prisoner with ADHD will be diagnosed an estimated 80% of prisoners with it has not been diagnosed. The chief executive of the ADHD foundation said that they aren’t more likely to become criminals people with ADHD don’t have a criminal gene
What is Asperger’s
Asperger’s is a syndrome which is on the autistics spectrum and according to experts can leave suffered devoid of guilt
Which characteristics of Asperger’s link to criminal offending
Characteristics of Asperger’s syndrome such as lack of empathy, social naivety, unusual passivity and a lack of awareness of outcome of action have been linked to criminal offending
What are the two main points on the sigmund Freud - Freudian approach
- believes a persons well being is dependant on healthy interactions and that delinquency is caused by disturbances or abnormalities in someone’s development from childhood
- unconscious anti social tendencies in people link back to childhood trauma cause long term psychological issues
What is the basic foundation of all future development
The development of an attachment between the primary care taker and the child is the basic foundation all future development (1969)
Which children are are concerned as being able to better cope with the world
Children who become attachment with someone in their environment who is protective + nurturing towards them are concerned of as being able to ‘better cope with the world” later in life (1988)
Which children are unable to connect and affection less
When a child doesn’t have a secure primary attachment for reasons such as multiple placements, early absence of a parent, trauma, they will be unable to connect and are affection less (1947) intimately with others
What was the nature of the most delinquent boys and girls in baulbys original theory
The most delinquent boys and girls baulbys original study were unable to intimately connect with others + were insecurely attachment to primary caretakers in childhood
How did John baulby study of 44 juvenile delinquents compare with non criminal disturbed juveniles
John baulby (1946) studied 44 juvenile delinquents and compared them with non criminal disturbed juveniles 39% of the delinquents had experienced complete separation from their mothers for 6 months of more during the first 5 years of their lives compared with 5% of the control group
Evidence against baulby (koluchora)
Kolucchora studied a pair of Czech twins and reported that although they were severely neglected for the first 7 years of their lives were deemed normal by the time they were 14 after being cared for
What is evidence against baulby (Clark and Clarke)
Clark and Clarke studied children from deprived backgrounds using a longitudinal study and found there to be many factors that contributed to the child becoming a criminal not just whether they were maternally deprived
Check pages after this theory
Ok need to make more flashcards
What are the four sociological theories
- the social learning theory
- the labelling theory
- the strain theory
- the social disorganisation theory
What does the social learning theory of crime state
The social learning theory of crime states that criminal activity is a learned behaviour. This theory states that a person is likely to become a criminal/ engaged in criminal activity if they are surrounded by others involved in criminal behaviour. The argument in that a person in contact with others who engage in criminal activity will imitate the behaviour of those people
How do people learn aggressive behaviour
Some people learn to commit crimes through the same process through which others learned to conform, people learn aggressive behaviour the same ways they learn other social behaviours by direct experience and observing others
What is an example of the social learning theory
In 1960s Albert Bandwia conducted an experiment called the bobo doll experiment. This was when he had different children watch a video of a bobo doll. In 1 version of the video the adult would strike the doll with a mallet and be aggressive towards it.
What happened after each child was taken to a room in the bobo doll exp
- After each child was taken to a room that had a bobo doll to see how they would react to it depending on the video they saw
- the children imitated the adults behaviour in whatever video they saw showing children learn by observing
What is a modern day example of the social learning theory
A modern day example of the social learning theory is social media trends. People might post themselves doing dangerous stunts for example and others will recreate it by reproducing behaviour they’ve learned
What is a disadvantage of the social learning theory
It disregards the influence of biological factors such as hormones and genetics on behaviour. This limits a persons behaviours to either nature or nurture rather than recognising that behaviours may change it also allows for different ways of learning
Example of family representing the social learning theory
William, John, Johnathan Birmingham - father who was a rapist + his sons who adopted his behaviour because of their environment they grew up in they became rapists aswell
What does the social disorganisation theory find
The social disorganisation theory finds that crime rates are constant in areas of high disorganisation. For example high unemployment rates population fluctuation, poverty etc these factors influence people due to there being no cohesion which causes delinquency
How did shaw and McKay research social disorganisation
Research on social disorganisation was researched on in the 1900s by shaw and McKay which researched activity over time and place by researching many different countries
How relevant is the social learning theory today
This theory is increasingly relevant today as the growing population of cities and modernisation have led to community breakdown which causes a rise in crime rates
What is an example of the social disorganisation theory
An example of the social disorganisation theory is when members of community with high residential turnover rates do not know each other due to constant moving. This makes them more likely to turn the other way if a crime is committed on each other as they do not know each other this leads to an increase in crime
What is an advantage of the social disorganisation theory
This theory is reliable as many real life instances provide strong evidence for the validity of social disorganisation theory in explaining geographical patterns of crime
Disadvantage of social disorganisation theory
The theory does not claim that an individual within disorganised communities will engage in criminal behaviour. The theory is based on an assumption of stability over time e.g a bad neighbourhood will always stay that way
What are adverse childhood experiences
Adverse childhood experiences are stressful or traumatic experiences that can greatly impact children and young people throughout their lives
How many aces can impact life expectancy
6 or more ACES can have an impact on life expectancy with a decrease of up to 20 years
