Adoption Studies

Question 1

Describe

Answer 1

• The adopted child shares the same environment as their adoptive parents. If their behaviour is more similar to their birth parents then it would support genetic explanation.
  Mednicks theory
• sons were more likely to have a criminal record if the birth parents also had a record. (20%)
• sons who had a criminal record if the adoptive parent has a record (14.7%).

Question 2

Strengths

Answer 2

• looks at environmental factors (adopted family).
• draws conclusions
  biological (nature)
  adoptive (nurture)
• Other studies show correlations between adopted people and birth parents (offending is similar)

Question 3

Weaknesses

Answer 3

• If adopted later on, they would have had exposure to biological family which could have influenced their offending.
  (not scientific).