AC2.1- Biological theories of crime

Question 1

What are the genetic theories of criminality?

Answer 1

XYY THEORY
TWIN STUDIES
ADOPTION STUDIES

Question 2

what are the physiological theories of criminality?

Answer 2

atavism
somatypes
neurochemicals
sex hormones
diseases
brain abnormality

Question 3

Who is the XYY theory by?

Answer 3

Jacob et al (1965)

Question 4

What does the XYY theory state?

Answer 4

the theory is only applicable to men and that these “super males” with have an extra Y chromosome

Question 5

What is the link to criminality for the XYY theory?

Answer 5

The men with an extra Y chromosome are more aggressive than the average male making them prone to criminality

Question 6

What is an example of the XYY theory?

Answer 6

John Wayne Gacy was found to have an extra Y chromosome
He displayed unusual behaviour such as murdering 33 people and hiding their bodies under and around his house while having a God complex
He described his first murder in gruesome detail and joked about how clowns can get away with murder

Question 7

What are the signs of criminality according to the XYY theory

Answer 7

odd hobbies
sexual gratification
sadism
odd behaviour

Question 8

Who is the theorist of the Twin Studies

Answer 8

Johannes Lang (1929)

Question 9

What do the Twin Studies state?

Answer 9

MZ twins are identical and share 100% of their DNA
DZ twins share 50% of their DNA
When both twins share a characteristic there is said to be a concordance rate

Question 10

What is the link to criminality for the Twin Studies?

Answer 10

When one twin is active in criminality then depending on how much DNA they share (DZ or MZ twins) they are more likely to do the same thing.
A heritable trait that may increase risk for criminal behaviour

Question 11

What is the example for the Twin Studies?

Answer 11

Johannes Lang studied twins through their lives and found that MZ twins had a much higher concordance rate than DZ twins
In criminal behaviour 10/13 twins went to prison.

Question 12

Who are the theorists of the Adoption Studies?

Answer 12

Hutchings & Mednick (1975)

Question 13

What do the Adoption Studies state?

Answer 13

they compare behaviour of adopted children in contrast to their biological parents and adoptive parents

Question 14

What was the link to criminality for the Adoption Studies?

Answer 14

If a child was more similar to their biological parents rather than their adoptive then there’s a genetic explanation
social factors (environment & economy) have no link to crime but there’s a criminal gene

Question 15

What is the study of the Adoption Studies?

Answer 15

Hutchings & Mednick studies 14,000 adopted children over a decade on a daily basis and found high proportions of boys who were similar to their convicted biological parents

Question 16

what is the case study for the Adoption Studies?

Answer 16

Charles Manson was adopted after he was taken away from his Mom at the age of 3 as she was abusive, an alcoholic and a prostitute - he didn’t remember her
At the age of 10 he began to steal
At the age of 11 he attempted to steal alcohol
by his 20s he became a serial killer and was aggressive and abusive even starting his own cult
he killed and mutilated pregnant Sharon Tate

Question 17

Who is the theorist of Atavism?

Answer 17

Lambrosso

Question 18

What does Atavism state?

Answer 18

An atavist is a subhuman who is stuck between a cave man and modern man and they are a separate species

Question 19

What is the link to criminality for Atavism?

Answer 19

A ‘born’ criminal could be determined by the physical shape of the head and face and could categorise crimes and features

Question 20

What is the example for Atavism?

Answer 20

3,000 Italian prisoners skulls and compared them with non-criminals by measuring their skulls and other physical traits and identified criminals had these features

Question 21

Who is the theorist of Somatypes?

Answer 21

William Sheldon

Question 21

What does the Somatypes theory state?

Answer 21

there are 3 different body types:
+Endomorphic: soft round body shape with higher body fat distributed around the waist and short limbs- tend to be sociable and relaxed
+Ectomorphic: slim delicate build with low body fat/muscles & long limbs- introverted and restrained
+Mesomorphic: Muscular athletic build with low body fat- aggressive +and adventurous

Question 22

What is the link to criminality for Atavism?

Answer 22

Many criminals prone to committing violent and aggressive acts were mesomorphic

Question 23

What is the case study for Somatypes?

Answer 23

Bodybuilder Howard Williams beat a man to death during a competition

Question 24

Who is the theorist of Brain Abnormality theory?

Answer 24

Raine Et Al

Question 25

What does the Brain Abnormality Theory State?

Answer 25

The pre-frontal cortex plays a role in impulse control, personality and thinking damage to the pre-frontal cortex may cause individuals to have altered behaviour and an inability to modify behaviour and have less self-control

Question 26

What is the link to criminality for Brain Abnormality?

Answer 26

The damage causes a change in personality and therefore may be more prone to criminality

Question 27

What is the example for Brain Abnormality?

Answer 27

PET scans used to study brains of impulsive liars and damage was found in the pre-frontal cortex was responsible for impulsive behaviour

Question 28

Who is the theorist of Neurochemicals?

Answer 28

Raine Et Al

Question 29

What does the Neurochemicals theory state?

Answer 29

Our brain chemistry can be influenced by diet, food additives or low blood sugar levels Steroids can affect levels of violence (roid rage) due to increase testosterone levels

Question 30

What is the link to criminality for Neurochemicals?

Answer 30

Studies show low levels of serotonin = high aggression therefore more impulsive therefore prone to crime

Question 31

What is the case study for Neurochemicals?

Answer 31

Horace Williams beat a man to death after taking 2,000 times the recommended dosage of steroids

Question 32

Who is the theorist of disease?

Answer 32

Constantin Van Economo

Question 33

What does the diseases theory state?

Answer 33

certain brain diseases have been linked to criminal/anti-social behaviour Changes in brain chemistry/ functioning may cause adverse affects of behaviour

Question 34

What is the link to criminality for Diseases?

Answer 34

Individuals may become more reckless, immature & irrational Diseases such as Encephalitis, brain tumours and Huntington's diseases are linked to various forms of deviant/ anti-social behaviour

Question 35

What is the example for Diseases?

Answer 35

in the 1920s epidemics of Encephalitis among children linked to destructiveness, impulsion, arson and abnormal sexual behaviour

Question 36

Who are the theorists of Sex Hormones?

Answer 36

Ellis & Cohntz

Question 37

What does the Sex Hormones theory state?

Answer 37

A change in hormones during puberty is directly responsible for our behaviour may cause outbursts which are difficult to control In males an over/under production of hormones causes an emotional disturbance that leads to criminal behaviour (testosterone peaks during 20+) and can lead to murder, manslaughter, rape In females theres pre-menstrual tension, post-natal depression as partial defences for women who have been charged with crimes, can lead to infanticide

Question 38

What is the case study for Sex Hormones?

Answer 38

Fred West- a serial rapist and killer who had high levels of testosterone