7.2 Forensics - Biological Explanations of Crime Flashcards
Atavistic form
A historical approach used to explain criminal behavior, based on biological factors, so argues we can be born with a criminal personality
Atavistic Characteristics
- Narrow face
- Sloping brow
- Large Lips
- Extra ligaments
- Long ears
- High cheek bones
- Facial asymmetry
Lombroso Study Aim
To identify distinguishing physical features among criminals which set them apart as offenders based on biological principles
Lombroso Study Method
Examined the features and measurements and features of roughly 4000 criminals and 400 dead criminal’s skulls.
Lombroso Study Conclusion
Concluded the identified Atavistic characteristics indicated people could be more primitive in evolutionary sense. He said individuals therefore not responsible for their actions. 40% of criminals had these identified these characteristics
Strengths of Atavistic Form
- Lombroso is hailed as the father of criminology as he switched research from the idea that criminals are weak minded to a more scientific and credible realm
- Said to be the first person to build a criminal profile so has had a positive contribution to the understanding of criminology that has led to modern use and application.
Limitations of Atavistic Form
- Ethnocentric as it only looked at Italian convicts
- Lacks temporal validity as it was conducted in the 1870’s, scientific advancements have been made since then
- Delisi (2012) found scientific racism to be evident as many of those with atavistic features were of African descent. E.g. darker skin, fuller lips. They were also described as savage and primitive and at the time this was the common philosophy as there was large racial hatred towards African people so may not be accurate
- Causation issues are not taken into account for example the implication that upbringing and usage of drugs in the modern day
Genetic Explanation
Suggests that would-be offenders inherit a gene or a combination of genes that predispose them to commit a crime
Key ideas of the genetic explanation of crime
- Twin studies evidence: Illustrates the importance of genes, Johannes Lange (1930) investigated 13 MZ and 17 DZ twins where one of each twin had committed a crime or spent time in prison. Found 10 of the MZ twins were also in prison but only 2 of the DZ twins concluding genetic factors must play a large role.
- Candidate genes: A genetic analysis of almost 900 offenders by Jari Tihonen et all (2014) revealed abnormalities on two genes thought to be related to violent crimes – The MAOA Gene which controls dopamine and serotonin in the brain and the CDH13 which is linked to substance abuse and ADD. Found that people with this combination of genes were 13x more likely to have a history of violent behavior.
- Diathesis-Stress Model: if genetics do have some influence on offending, it seems likely it is partly moderated by the environment. Elsewhere we have seen this applied to schizophrenia. A tendency to commit criminal behavior may come due to a combination of both Genetic predisposition and biological or psychological triggers e.g. being raised in a dysfunctional environment. Mednick et al (1984) studied Danish adoptees and found 13.5% to be criminals with no criminal parents, 14.7% when at least 1 adoptive parent was a criminal, 20% when at least 1 biological parent was a criminal and 24.5% when at least one parent and one adoptive parent was a criminal which supports this model
Neural Explanation
And explanation of behaviour in terms of the brains and nervous systems functions and dysfunctions. Including the activities of brain structures such as the hypothalamus and neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine
Anti-Social Personality Disorder (APD)
Condition associated with the reduced emotional response, lack of empathy for feelings of others and is a condition held by many convicted criminals.
Raine research on APD
Conducted many studies on APD brains and reported several dozen brain imaging studies that demonstrated people with APD have reduced activity in the pre-frontal cortex, the area that regulates behavior. Raine et al (2000) also found an 11% reduction in the volume of grey matter in prefrontal cortexes of APD patients compared to others
Mirror neurons explanation
Recent research suggests criminals can experience empathy but only occasionally. Christian Keysers et al (2011) found only when criminals asked to empathize did their empathy reaction, controlled by the mirror neurons activate. This suggests that APD suffers not totally without empathy but have neutral switches that can be turned on and off, unlike the ‘normal brain’ which has empathy permanently on
Neural Activity/ Structure evidence
Raine compared 27 psychopaths to 32 non-psychopaths. ‘’The amygdala is the seat of emotion. Psychopaths lack emotion, empathy, remorse or guilt’’ Those with APD were found to have an 18% reduction in the volume of the amygdala and thinning of the outer cortex.
Strengths of the genetic and neural explanations of crime
- Real life applications – if someone has low serotonin levels we are able to treat this via SSRI’s to prevent compulsive violent behavior meaning less needs to be spent on policing
- Biological explanation supports the nature debate as evidence from the likes of Raine imply crime can be linked to problems in the brain. Interactionism would be a better way of explaining this
- Supporting evidence from Mednick et al (1984)
