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Crim main topics > AC2.1 Biological Theories > Flashcards

AC2.1 Biological Theories Flashcards

1
Q

What is Lombroso’s theory called?

A

Lombroso’s atavistic form theory

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2
Q

Does Lombroso believe in nature or nurture?

A

Nature - certain characteristics that could mark man as born criminal

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3
Q

Name 4 characteristics that Lombroso links specifically to criminality

A
  1. Thin ‘reedy’ lips (Fraud)
  2. Bloodshot eyes, curly hair, long ears (murderers)
  3. Projecting ears, glinting eyes (sexual deviants)
  4. Canine teeth
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4
Q

How many of Lombroso’s characteristics do men have to have to be marked a born criminal?

A

5+

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5
Q

How many of Lombroso’s characteristics do women have to have to be marked a born criminal?

A

3+

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6
Q

What does Lombroso believe that born criminals are?

A

Throwback to an earlier stage of human evolution

Physical makeup, metal capabilities, + instincts of primitive man

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7
Q

What are the 3 thing that Lombroso portrayed a normal women as being?

A
  1. A good mother
  2. Sexually passive
  3. Monogamous
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8
Q

How did Lombroso show that women are inferior?

A

Biological data
Smaller size of average female brain + body
Demonstrate intellectual inferiority of women

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9
Q

Why are women prostitutes according to Lombroso?

A

Inherited deviant nature (rather than poverty)

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10
Q

What are the 7 characteristics of a prostitute that Lombroso ID?

A
  1. Limited cranial capacity
  2. Narrow foreheads
  3. Prominent cheekbones
  4. Short
  5. Excessive-weight
  6. Left-handedness
  7. Prehensile feet (ability to grasp like hand)
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11
Q

What are the 4 criticisms of Lombroso’s work?

A
  1. Scientific racism
  2. Over emphasising biology, ignores social causes
  3. No control group, only those who got caught
  4. Gender divide
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12
Q

How has Lombroso’s work been criticised for being scientifically racist?

A 
Matt Delsi (2012) draws attention to the distinct racial undertones with Lombroso's work
Criminal + atavistic features (curly hair, dark skin) = more likely found among people of African descent
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13
Q

What are some of the social factors that Lombroso ignores?

A
  1. Poverty
  2. Low education levels
  3. Diet

ALL could influence physical characteristics linked to criminality
However, did later modify his work: ‘various environmental factors also influence criminal beh’

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14
Q

What is a problem with Lombroso not using a control group?

A

Only looked at criminals

Therefore don’t know how common criminal features = in people who aren’t criminals

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15
Q

Is there a gender divide in Lombroso’s work?

A

YES!
Infers females = inherently weak/ immoral
(they only need 3+ of the characteristics)

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16
Q

Who devised the theory of somatotypes?

A

Sheldon in the 1940s

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17
Q

What does the theory of somatotypes do?

A

Developed as a way to catagorise human physique

18
Q

What does Sheldon’s constitutional theory attempt to do?

A

Attempted to associate somatotypes with human temperament types
Now a neglected theory

19
Q

What are the 3 somatotypes that Sheldon identified?

A
  1. Ectomorphic
  2. Mesomorphic
  3. Endomorphic
20
Q

What are the 5 characteristics of the mesomorphic somatotypes?
*****

A
  1. Athletic build
  2. Well developed muscles
  3. Inclined towards risk-taking
  4. Assertive
  5. Dominant
21
Q

What somatotype are criminals most likely to have?

A

Mesomorph

- also the most desirable

22
Q

How did Sheldon support his theory?

A

Assessed somatotype of samples of college students + delinquents from photographs
Each photo = rated for mesomorphy on scale of 1 (low) - 7 (high)
Found delinquents had higher mean mesomorphy rating than college students (4.6 v 3.8)
Supporting link between body type + criminality

Re-analysis by Hartl et al (1982)

23
Q

Who conducted re-anaylisis of Sheldon’s work?

A

Hartl et al (1982)

24
Q

What did Hartl et al (1982) find when they re-analysed Sheldon’s work?

A

Most serious delinquents of Sheldon’s sample had a mean mesomorphy rating of 5
Adding further support theory

25
Q

Was there a research bias in Sheldon’s work?

A

Yes
Internal methodology has been discounted as subjective however, = developed later on by others + now still in academic use

He could have been looking for the link, so he found one

26
Q

What are the 2 genetic theories of criminality?

A
  1. MAOA ‘warrior gene’

2. XYY ‘supermales’

27
Q

What is the MAOA gene?

A

Enzyme, breaks down monoamine neurotransmitters in brain (noradrenaline, serotonin, dopamine)
Has been linked to extreme aggression
People with mutant version have deficit in MAOA activity
Resulting in monoamine imbalances + increased agg

28
Q

What happens to the people with a mutant version of the MAOA gene?

A

Have a deficit in MAOA activity resulting in a monoamine imbalances + increased aggression

29
Q

What is Klinefelter’s syndrome?

A

The combination of XXY

Results in a male with some female characteristics

30
Q

What could the extra Y chromosome do to males?

A

Could ‘hyper masculinise’ men
Causing more aggressive than other men
Hence more likely to commit violent crimes

31
Q

What can atypical chromosomal combinations result in?

A

Can result in atypical sexual development

e.g XXY/ XYY

32
Q

How could Brunner Syndrome be used to support the MAOA gene?

A

Rare genetic disorder
Caused by mutation n MAOA gene (X chromosome)
1st ID in 1993 - 14 males in 1 family
All unable to regulate aggressive compulsions - criminal acts
Female members = unaffected, males without mutation = normal
Suggests that increased aggression = no due to nurture (in gene)

33
Q

What did Christiansen (1997) find?

A

Studied concordance rates
Criminal behaviour in 87 MZ + 147 DZ twins
33% = MZ
12% = DZ
Suggests genes play some role in criminal behaviour

34
Q

What are the 3 problem with twin studies?

A
  1. Correlation, no C+E
  2. Concordance rate is below 100%, genes = part of explanation
  3. Assumption had same upbringing, could’ve lived apart/ treated differently/ different experiences
35
Q

What does ‘diathesis’ mean?

A

Greek

Disposition, vulnerability

36
Q

What is the diathesis-stress model?

A

Attempts explain behaviour as predisposition vulnerability
Combined with stress from life experiences
Exceeds threshold, disorder starts develop
Purpose = try understand relationship between nature + nurture
- something has to trigger the gene

37
Q

Who is the diathesis-stress model supported by?

A

Jim Fallon - brain structure + genetic make-up of psycho
Has high risk genes
BUT HE’S NOT - showing genetic predisposition to criminal behaviour isn’t certain, just potential

38
Q

What did Hewitt (2009) find?

A

XYY men = rare in general population
More common in offender population
HOWEVER tend to commit nonviolent crimes

39
Q

What did Graham et al (2007) find?

A

Testosterone levels in XYY men = same as XY men
No more aggressive
BUT = at substantially increased risk of developmental delay + learning difficulties
Crime could be; learning difficulties associated with XYY not aggression

40
Q

Is there a link between learning difficulties and criminal behaviour?
Could could this criticise the XXY gene theory?

A

Small association between learning difficulties + criminal behaviour:
IQ scores of convicted offenders = marginally lower
Higer prevalence of mild learning difficulties amongst offenders
Crime may be due to learning difficulties associated with XYY, not aggression

41
Q

Who criticises Lombroso saying his work was scientifically racist?

A

Matt Delsi (2012)

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