AC2.1 Biological theories of criminality

Question 1

what are all the biological theories of crime?

Answer 1

physiological & genetics

Question 2

what are the physiological theories

Answer 2

atavism- lombroso
somatotypes- sheldon
neurochemistry- scerbo & raine

Question 3

what the genetic theories

Answer 3

xxy theory- jacob et al
adoption studies- mednick
twin studies- christiansen

Question 4

atavism by lombroso (physiological)

Answer 4

-‘born criminal’/atavism
-throw back to an earlier species of primitive humans
-identified by large jaw, ears, very long arms
-reduced pain sensitivity
-pre social, unable to control impulses

Question 5

lombroso’s research

Answer 5

-years recording details of the heads/faces of thousands of prisoners
-measurements/sketches/ photos
-concluded 40% of criminala cts could be accounted for by atavistic characteristics

Question 6

somatotypes by sheldon (physiological)

Answer 6

endo: fat/soft = more sociable & relaxed
ecto: thin/fragile = introverted & restrained
meso: muscular/hard = more aggressive & adventurous

Question 7

what did sheldon say about mesomorphs?

Answer 7

violent/aggressive acts- more likely to be committed they’re attracted to risk-taking
their imposing physique and assertiveness comes in useful.

Question 8

sheldon’s research

Answer 8

sample of photos of college students
delinquents rated on a scale of 1-7 in terms of resemblance to mesomorphy
delinquents had higher scores for mesomorphy

Question 9

lombroso strengths

Answer 9

credited for establishing criminology as a science
challenges views that criminals choose criminality
initiated offender profilling

Question 10

lombroso weaknesses

Answer 10

racial discrimination- features described can be attributed to african descent
sutides focused on the 1 group, so no comparison

Question 11

sheldon strengths

Answer 11

found correlation between body types & criminality- supported in studies as studies show criminals are often more physically fit/agressive
introduced bio factors in explaining behaviour rather than relying on social/psychological

Question 12

sheldon weaknesses

Answer 12

doesn’t factor body type changes from child-adulthood
ignored endo/ecto criminals

Question 13

neurochemistry by scerbo and raine (physiological)

Answer 13

body changes can lead to brain changes
such can lead to agression/involuntary movements
steroid misuse may contribute to higher aggression levels ‘roid rage’

Question 14

what did scerbo and raine’s study find

Answer 14

control of diet can lead to higher serotonin and better behaviour

Question 15

scerbo & raine strengths

Answer 15

many of the clinical trials are led by medical practitioners & peer reviewed
self-eval of steroid users report higher aggression levels (Dobash)
studies confirm low serotonin can lead to aggression

Question 16

scerbo & raine weaknesses

Answer 16

recent steroid studies ar einconclusive- find other anti-social lifestyle factors have significant impact
focus on aggression doesn’t satisfy reasons for all crime e.g property related