AC2.1 Describe biological theories of criminality

Question 1

What are physiological theories?

Answer 1

1. Lombroso’s theory 1976
2. Sheldon’s somatotypes theory

Question 2

Key points of Lombroso’s theory 1976

Answer 2

• He argued that criminals were physically different to non-criminals.
• Measured hundreds of faces and heads of prisoners.

Question 3

Conclusions from Lombroso’s research data:

Answer 3

• Enormous jaws
• High cheekbones
• Handle shaped ears
• Prominent eyebrow arches
• Very long arms
• Large eye sockets
• Extremely acute eyesight

Question 4

According to Lombroso:

Answer 4

• Different criminals have different facial features.
• An example: murders have aquiline noses, whereas thieves have flattened noses.

Question 5

Atavism:

Answer 5

Relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral – Lombroso’s theory argues that criminals are atavistic.
- He thought that criminals were abnormal and non-criminals were normal.
- Lombroso saw criminality as Atavistic.
- This meant he believed criminals were physiologically similar primitive humans or humans in the earlier stage of evolution.
- Criminals are ‘pre-social’ and therefore not able to control their impulses.
- They would fit in with a more primitive society and be considered normal there.
- They have a reduced sensitivity to pain.

Question 6

Born criminal:

Answer 6

Definition of criminal type:
Lombroso believed that you could tell if someone was a criminal by looking at their physical characteristics.

Physical attributes:
- A small skull
- Large eye sockets
- A sunken forehead

Psychological differences:
- Unfriendly
- Vain
- Selfish

Question 7

Epileptic criminal:

Answer 7

Definition of criminal type:
They are lazy, animal-loving, destructive, and vain. He also said that they had suicidal tendencies and that, along with moral imbeciles, they were the only ones who tried to commit crimes with other people.

Physical attributes:
- They have epilepsy.

Psychological differences:
- Extremely affectionate
- Tend to feel extreme guilt after committing a crime.

Question 8

Key points of Sheldon’s somatotypes theory:

Answer 8

• Sheldon, like Lombroso, argued that criminals were physically different to non-criminals.
• He focused on body types instead of facial features.
• He studied juvenile delinquents.

Question 9

Ectomorph:

Answer 9

Body:
- Tall
- Slim
- Narrow shoulders
- Low muscle
- Mass percentage

Personality:
- Anxious
- Self-conscious
- Artistic
- Thoughtful
- Quiet and private

Crime:
- Suicidal tendencies

Question 10

Endomorph:

Answer 10

Body:
- Curvy wide his
- Big bones
- Large fat percentage

Personality:
- Sociable
- Relaxed
- Comfortable

Crime:
- Mental health issues

Question 11

Mesomorph (the criminals)

Answer 11

Body:
- High muscle percentage
- Strong limbs
- Broad shoulders
- Narrow waist

Personality:
- Adventurous
- Sensation seeking
- Assertive
- Domineering
- Enjoy physical activity

Crime:
- Mostly likely to do crime

Question 12

Somatotypes:

Answer 12

• Mesomorph most likely to engage in crime.
• More likely to be attracted to risk-taking.
• Physic can be helpful in crime.
• Being assertive helpful for crime.

Question 13

What are the genetic theories?

Answer 13

1. Twin study
2. Adoption study
3. Jacob’s XYY syndrome

Question 14

Key points of twin studies:

Answer 14

• Monozygotic twins (MZ) - identical twins (exactly the same genetics).
• Dizygotic twins (DZ) - non-identical twins (50% of the same genetics – like other siblings).

Question 15

Study 1: Christiane’s study

Answer 15

• 3,586 twin pairs in Denmark.
• 52% concordance rate MZ twins when one is convict.
• 22% concordance rate in DZ twins.

Question 16

Study 2: Ishikawa and Raine

Answer 16

• 44% MZ
• 21.6% DZ

Question 17

Key points of adoption studies:

Answer 17

• Studies which compare adopted children to adoptive parents and biological parents.
• This gives us the change to compare the impact of genetics Vs. Environment.
• If a child’s behaviour is similar to their biological parents, then we can infer that this behaviour is genetic.

Question 18

Evidence:

Answer 18

Mednick et al:
- 1924 to 1947 in Denmark.
- 14,000 adopted sons.
- Sons were more likely to have a criminal record if a birth parent also had a record (20%).
- This supports a genetic explanation.
- Found that a smaller proportion (14.7) had a criminal record if their adoptive parent had a criminal record.
- This supports genetic theory of criminology.

Hutchings and Mednick:
- Compared adoptees with and without criminal records.
- Found that adoptees with criminal records were more likely to have biological parents with criminal records than adoptees whose birth parents did not have criminal records.

Question 19

Key points of Jacob’s XYY syndrome:

Answer 19

Chromosomes: a structure made of DNA and protein which found in the nucleus of cells.
- Chromosomes carry the genetic information we inherit from our parents e.g., the brown eye gene.
- The majority of people have 23 pairs of chromosomes.
- We inherit half of each pair from one parent.
- The final pair are the sex chromosomes – XX = Female – XY = Male.
- We inherit an X from our mother and an X or a Y from our fathers.

Question 20

Super Male Syndrome: an extra Y chromosome:

Answer 20

• Tall
• Well built
• Low intelligence

Question 21

Jacob et al’s Suggestions:

Answer 21

Argue they are more aggressive and potentially violent.

Question 22

Labels:

Answer 22

• Tall structure
• Slightly feminised
• Low hairline/no baldness in front
• Poor beard growth
• Often loses chest hairs.
• Acene
• Long legs
• Increased risk of learning difficulties

Question 23

Prince and Whatmore Study:

Answer 23

• Investigated imprisoned criminals including those in psychiatric hospitals.
• A higher-than-average proportion of inmates were found to have XYY syndrome (often with histories of aggression and violent assault).
• Prince and Whatmore found XYY males to be immature, unstable and they often committed seemingly motiveless property crime.

Question 24

What are injuries and disorders?

Answer 24

1. Sex hormones
2. Blood sugar levels
3. Substance abuse
4. Other substance

Question 25

Key points of sex hormones:

Answer 25

Male:
- Testosterone – most males of most species are more aggressive than females. - Has been linked to murder and rape.
- + Ellis and Coontz – testosterone levels peek from puberty to 20 which is when most male crimes occur.

Female:
- Premenstrual cycle.
- Postnatal depression.

Lactation:
Have all been accepted as part of a women’s defence in court on the grounds that the hormones levels interfered with their judgement.

Question 26

Blood sugar level theory:

Answer 26

• Large quantities of alcohol consumption can lead to low blood sugar levels.
• Alcohol is closely linked to crimes of violence.

Question 27

Blood sugar level evidence:

Answer 27

Schoenthaler claims that by lowing daily sucrose intake of young offenders he could reduce the level of their anti-social behaviour.

Question 28

Substance abuse theory:

Answer 28

• Legal – alcohol/glue.
• Medically prescribed – barbiturates (sedative-hypnotics).
• Illegal - cannabis/ MDMA/ LSD/ heroine/ cocaine (linked to violence

Question 29

Substance abuse evidence:

Answer 29

• Saunders – alcohol is significantly involved in 1000 arrests per day.
• Flazer – estimated 80% of family violence in the USA involved alcohol.

Question 30

Other substances theories

Answer 30

• Food additives
• Diet.
• Allergens.
• Vitamin deficiencies.
• Lead pollution these substances affect biochemical processes in the body which can affect behaviour.

Question 31

Other substances evidence:

Answer 31

• Lead and synthetic tartrazine (food colouring) linked to hyperactivity.
• Vitamin B deficiency linked erratic and aggressive behaviour.