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criminology unit 2 > ac 2.1 biological theories > Flashcards

ac 2.1 biological theories Flashcards

1
Q

what are biological theories?

A

Criminals are born biologically different causing criminality

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2
Q

What are the 4 types of biological theories?

A

Physiological, Genetic, Brain abnormality, biochemical.

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3
Q

what are physiological theories?

A

Criminals physical features are different to non criminals.

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4
Q

who are the 2 theorists for physiological theories?

A

Cesare Lombroso, William Sheldon

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5
Q

Key idea of lombrosos theory

A

Criminal features are different to non criminals

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6
Q

How is a ‘born criminal’ recognised?

A

Through their atavistic features.

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7
Q

What is atavism?

A

A throwback to primitive (presocial) stages of life.

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8
Q

Name at least 4 atavistic features

A

Large jaw
high cheekbones
long arms
prominant eyebrow arches
acute eyesight
large eye sockets

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9
Q

What was lombrosos study?

A

Studied features of 3839 alive criminals and 383 dead ones.

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10
Q

What percentage of criminal acts can be accounted for by atavistic features?

A

40%

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11
Q

Lombroso strengths

A

-First person to study crime scientifically
-helps focus on prevention rather than punishment
-led to beginning of criminal profiling

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12
Q

Lombroso limitations

A

-no control group
-Not everyone with atavistic features are criminal and vice versa
-assumes that people with atavistic features cant escape destiny

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13
Q

Key idea of Sheldon’s theory

A

Somatotype is linked to criminality

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14
Q

Whats an ectomorph?

A

Thin, fragile, self concious, emotionally restrained

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15
Q

whats an endomorph?

A

fat, soft, sociable, relaxed

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16
Q

Whats a mesomorph?

A

Hard, muscular, impulsive, adventurous

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17
Q

What was sheldons study?

A

studied pictures of college students and delinquents and rated their resemblance to mesomorphy on scale of 1-7. Delinquents higher average of mesomorph.

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18
Q

Strengths of sheldons study

A

-other studies replicate link between body type and criminality
-good sized sample and control group

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19
Q

Limitations of sheldons study

A

-mesomorphs more likely to be labelled as criminals
-body type can be built over time- nobody born mesomorph
-mesomorphs can be pressured into illegal acts

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20
Q

What are genetic theories?

A

Theories suggesting criminality is a result of genes inherited from parents

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21
Q

What’re the three theories?

A

jacobs xyy, twin studies, adoption studies

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22
Q

What do osborne and west say about sons?

A

sons with criminal fathers much more likely to become criminals too

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23
Q

What’re the 2 types of twins?

A

Monozygotic MZ- identical
Dyzigotic DZ- unidentical/ fraternal

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24
Q

what percentage of genes do MZ and DZ twins share?

A

MZ- 100%
DZ 50%

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25
Q

What is the key idea of twin studies?

A

If cause of criminality is genetic, MZ twins should have same criminality as they share 100% of genes.

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26
Q

What study did christiansen carry out?

A

Studied 3586 twin pairs in Denmark to find concordance rates

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27
Q

What did christiansens study show?

A

MZ- 52% concordance rate
DZ- 22% concordance rate

28
Q

What is the key idea of adoption studies?

A

If criminality is genetic, adoptees will match criminality of biological parents more than adoptive

29
Q

what is environmental explanation

A

Criminality result of surroundings child brought up in

30
Q

Who carried out adoption study

A

Mendick et al

31
Q

what was mendick et al’s study?

A

Studied 14000 adoptive children between 1924 and 1949

32
Q

What was mendick et al’s findings?

A

-siblings more likely to have criminal record if parents have one - supports genetic theory
-only around 15% had one if adoptive parents did
Adoptees more likely to have criminal record if bio parents did

33
Q

Strengths of twin and adoption studies

A

-give some support to genetic explanations
-research design is logical

34
Q

limitations of twin and adoption studies

A

-if criminality strictly genetic MZ would have 100% concordance
-impossible to fully isolate genetic effects from environmental ones

35
Q

What is a chromosome?

A

DNA that carries genetics inherited from parents. Most people have 23 pairs.

36
Q

what is xyy syndrome

A

(supermale syndrome) when men inherit an extra Y chromosone from their fathers

37
Q

what was Jacob’s key idea on xyy syndrome?

A

xyy makes men genetically pre disposed to criminality

38
Q

what are the features of xyy?

A

tall, low intellegence, high aggression, violent

39
Q

what was Jacob’s study?

A

compared rate of xxy in criminals compared to non criminals

40
Q

what did jacob’s study find?

A

found that there was higher than avarage amount of inmates with xyy

41
Q

what did prince and whitmore say that supports jacob’s theory?

A

xyy immature and unstable making them likely to commit motiveless property crime

42
Q

Jacob xyy strengths

A

-Jacob found association between xyy and criminality
-prince and whitmore found evidence of correlation between xyy and property crime

43
Q

jacob xyy limitations

A

-having the syndrome doesnt mean it caused the crime
-labels xyy as violent offenders
-syndrome too rare to explain most crimes

44
Q

what is a case study example of brain injuries and criminality

A

Phineas gage
Metal rod went through frontal lobe, behaviour and personality changed with friends and family saying he was no longer gage and he engaged in behaviours he hadn’t been engaging with in the past.

44
Q

what is the key idea of brain injuries in explaining criminality?

A

Damage to brain, especially prefrontal cortex, can change personality and behaviour and are more common in prisoners.

45
Q

why did the rod alter phineas gage’s behaviour and attitude?

A

part of brain lost associated with mentala nd emotional functions

46
Q

What is the key idea with brain disorders/ diseases in explaining criminality?

A

some brain disorders and diseases have been linked to criminal behaviour.

47
Q

examples of brain disorders and diseases that can alter criminal behaviour

A

encephalitis lethargica, dementia, brain tumours

48
Q

what does an EEG do

A

measures brain activity

49
Q

how can EEG readings be linked to criminality?

A

some studies show abnormal readings in psychopathic criminals

50
Q

brain injuries and disorders strengths

A

-few extreme cases show brain injury can resiult in criminal behaviour
-correlation betrween abnormal EEG and psychopathy
-prisoners more likely to have brain abnormalities than non criminals

51
Q

brain injuries and disorders limitations

A

-crimes caused by brain injuries/diseases rare. More to do with personality
-abnormal EEG nor seen in all psychopaths

52
Q

How can biochemistry explain criminality?

A

Biochemicals effect brain chemistry and mental processes

53
Q

what is the key idea of biochemical explanations

A

biochemical substances and processes linked to criminality

54
Q

what is testosterone and what types of crimes does it link to?

A

Male sex hormone when over produced linked to aggression and violent crimes

55
Q

What do Ellis and Coontz say about male sex hormones?

A

testosterone peaks from puberty to early 20s which is the same as criminality

56
Q

what is PMT

A

premenstrual tension- fluctuation in sex hormones

57
Q

whats PND

A

Post natal depression- used as defence in infanticide

58
Q

How are female sex hormones linked to criminality?

A

PMT, PND, Lactation used as defence in court as affect mood and self control

59
Q

is low blood pressure hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia?

A

hypo

60
Q

How is low blood pressure linked to criminality?

A

Hypoglycaemia linked to aggression and irritability

61
Q

How is substance abuse linked to criminality?

A

Drugs and alcohol can lead to increased aggression and impulsivity

62
Q

Biochemical explanations strengths

A

-biochemical recognised by courts
-sex hormones, drugs and alcohol, and blood pressure levels all known to increase aggression

63
Q

Biochemical explanations limitations

A

-biochemical responses may need environmental explanation too
-some studies say testosterone not linked
-PND and infanticide could be caused by isolation not hormones

64
Q
A

criminology unit 2 (2 decks)

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