AC2.1 - Biological theories Flashcards
What are the 4 physiological theories?
- Lombroso
- Sheldon - Atlas of men
- Brain abnormalities
- Neurochemicals
What did Lombroso state that criminals are?
Criminals are people who were born in the primitive stage of their development
What did Lombroso state that criminals can be determined by?
The shape of their head and their face
What research did Lombroso carry out?
Examined the facial and cranial features of 383 dead and 3839 criminals
What did Lombroso conclude?
40% of criminal acts can be accounted through atavistic features
What did Sheldon: Atlas of men 1954 look into?
The correlation between body types and personality types
What was Sheldon 1954 research?
The front, side and back views of 4000 unclothed men
What were the three body types that Sheldon concluded?
- Endomorphic
- Ectomorphic
- Mesomorphic
What is meant by endomorphic?
Fat and soft with a sociable and relaxed personality
What is meant by ectomorphic?
Thin and fragile with an introverted and restrained personality
What is meant by mesomorphic?
Muscular with an aggressive and adventurous personality
What was Sheldon’s research method?
- Submitted a scale of 1 (low) - 7 (high in mesomorph)
- College students and delinquents
What was the score of college students and delinquents in Sheldon 1954 study?
College students (3.8) Delinquents (4.6)
What did Sheldon find from body types to criminals?
Criminals are most likely to have mesomorphic as their physique is important in risk-taking to commit the crime.
State 2 strengths into Lombroso’s research.
- First person to study criminology scientifically which offered a biological approach to criminality
- Shows the importance of historical and clinical information
State 2 limitations into Lombroso’s research.
- Didn’t compare to a control group of non-criminals
2. Equates criminals with non-western people (prejudice)
State 2 strengths into Sheldon’s research.
- Large sample size
- Most serious delinquents had mesomorphic somatypes which supported his findings
State 2 limitations into Sheldon’s research.
- Mesomorphs are more likely to be stereotyped (internalisation)
- Not all criminals have the same body type (doesn’t look at cause and effect)
Why are brain abnormalities a reason behind criminality - pre-frontal cortex?
Damage to the pre-frontal cortex leads to a loss in self-control and the inability to modify behaviour if damaged
Who conducted research into brain abnormalities?
Raine et al 1994
Which case study supports brain abnormalities?
Phineas Gage
What did Raine et al 1994 research into brain abnormalities?
Used PET scans to study the brains of impulsive killers which showed damage to the pre-frontal cortex
What other research supports brain abnormalities?
Abnormal EEG readings is seen to be somewhat correlated with psychopathy
What 2 things can affect the brains neurochemicals?
- Diet
- Serotonin
