biological and psychological explanations of crime

Question 1

biological explanations of crime

Answer 1

Doctor Lombroso suggests that criminals had distinctive physical features.=possible to tell who a criminal was by looking at them
e.g.: large jaw, dark skin, inability to blush

-phrenology-the shape of a skull is used to determine if an individual is a criminal

Question 2

psychological explanations of crime

Answer 2

-criminal behaviour is based on genetic characteristics.
Jacob conducted a study on criminals
found that they have an extra y chromosome
-these men tend to be more aggressive,less rational,complusive

• also other factors such as poor relationships with parents(maternal deprivation)

Question 3

sociological critiques to biological and psychological

Answer 3

-fail to recognise that the meaning attached to crime and deviance are created by social and cultural factors

-crime is not randomly distributed by genes or personality but follows a certain pattern