Biological Exlantions

Question 1

3 main biological explantions

Answer 1

• genetics
• neural
• historical

Question 2

historical approach

Answer 2

• criminals have distinguished innate physical features (atavistic traits)

Question 3

Lombroso study - historical approach

Answer 3

• examined 4000 criminals features
• 21% had 1 atavistic feature 43% had at least 5
• argued criminals cannot be blamed for their criminal behaviour was shaped by their physical features

Question 4

Atavistic form

Answer 4

• assumption that criminals at represent a more primitive Stage of development than non criminals
• distinct physical features : heavy brown, extra toes/nipples, strong jawline

Question 5

Weaknesses of lombroso study

Answer 5

• did not use a control group, could not compare the physical patterns he had discovered amongst the criminals to a group of non criminals, likely these physical features are coincidental and could be found amongst any group of people

Counter argument
- not support by research can be considered early attempt to study criminal behaviour scientifically

• goring attempted replicated lambroso study compared 2,348 london criminals a with control group, failed to replicate results suggest criminal behaviour is not linked to physical appearance
• androcentric he considered women to be less evolved than men, women where passive which neutralised their negative traits and where less likley to be criminals, women who did present atavistic features here monsters but where beneficial in men

Question 6

Weakness of historical approach

Answer 6

Contributed to stereotyping of criminals, prejudice against ppl whom present atavistic features
Counter argument
Kaplans - three of self derogation offers different explanation, more likely to become criminals because of the way they are treated by society, negative interactions with other due to their appearances suggests criminal behaviour is due to interact in between genes and environment

Question 7

Genetics

Answer 7

Some people have genetic predisposition to criminal behaviour

Question 8

3 ways to study genetic components

Answer 8

Twin studies
- investigate concordance rates between MZ vs DZ twins
- higher CR for criminal behaviour in MZ twins than DZ as MZ share 100% of there genes whereas MZ only share 50%

Family studies
- criminal behaviour in parents and their biological children if gentic link
- children with criminal parents are more likely to display criminal behaviour than those with non criminal behaviour

Adoption studies
- criminal behaviour of adopted children and their adopted parents as well as their biological parents
- expect if link, adopted children should show criminal behaviour even though there brought up in non criminal behaviour environment

Question 9

Evaluation twin studies

Answer 9

Supporting research
- raine, CR in MZ was 52% CR of DZ was 21%, supports assumption that criminal behaviour might be heritable in twins as CR where higher in MZ

Counter argument
- other factors have an impact on whether criminal behaviour is displayed, as CR for criminal behaviour was only 52%

Weakness
-due to environmental influences eg parenting even through offending behaviour is higher in MZ than DZ may be due to MZ twins being treated more similarly to each other than DZ

Question 10

Evaluation of family studies

Answer 10

Supporting evidence
- Farrington compared conviction rate of 411men with those of their biological parents and close family members, found 75% of convicted parents and convicted child. Support idea that criminal behaviour runs in the family

Counter argument
- nature vs nurture influences are difficult to separate in family studies, difficult t disguise where criminal behaviour due to environment or heritability

Question 11

Evaluation of adoption studies

Answer 11

Supporting evidence
- meta analysis 51 twin and adoption studies on antisocial behaviour
- found genetic influence was lower in parent off spring that’s in twin a sibling studies, suggest degree of heritability is greater amongst biological parents and thee children , therefore the likelihood to display criminal behaviour is higher when someone has got a criminal biological idling than a criminal parent

Counter argument
- stress of adoption rather than genetic link between biological parents and sibling and child could contain for offending behaviour
- difficult to selected biological from environmental factors

Question 12

Debate of gentics

Question 13

2 types of neural explanation

Answer 13

Neurotransmitter and brain regions

Question 14

Define neural explanation

Answer 14

Explain offending behaviour by looking t areas of the brain the nervous system and neurotransmitters

Question 15

What is assumed about a criminals brain structure

Answer 15

They have a different brain structure to non criminals

Question 16

What causes a altered brain structure

Answer 16

• brain injury which alters or impairs brain physiology which can be a contributing factor to offending behaviour

Question 17

Normal pre frontal cortex

Answer 17

Involved in regulating emotion and controlling moral behaviour

Question 18

What happens when pre frontal cortex is not functioning

Answer 18

Offender less control of emotions and impulses leading to aggressive crimes eg murder

Question 19

Normal limbic system (amygdala)

Answer 19

Modulation of emotion

Question 20

What occurs when there is a fault in the limbic system (amygdala)

Answer 20

• Lack of guilt and remorse
• commonly displayed in psychopaths who commit aggressive types of murder

Question 21

evidence in brain regions

Answer 21

Supporting research
Raine et al
- difference in brain between non murders and murders
- some difference in brain activity in the pre frontal cortex and areas of limbic system which are usually linked with aggression

Weakness
- research into brain region is often correlational, unclear whether someone with abnormal brain physiology causes offending behaviour or whether offending behaviour causes brain structure to change
- cannot make direct link between brain physiology and offending behaviour

Question 22

Evaluation of brain region

Answer 22

Weaknesses
- further research needed, not everyone whom suffers brain injury commits crime, shows complexity of the relationship between brain physiology and offending behaviour

Counter argument
- Implications in the legal system, if behaviour can be explained via brain injury it can be argued offender is not at fault, therefor cannot be held criminally responsible

Question 23

Debate of brain regions

Question 24

How does neurotransmitter link to criminal behaviour being present

Answer 24

May be due to an imbalance of biochemical in our bod

Question 25

3 neurotransmitters

Answer 25

• noradrenaline
• serotonin
• dopamine

Question 26

Noradrenaline

Answer 26

• Fight in dangerous situations (flight or fright)
• high levels linked aggression and violence as murder and rapist would typically display

Question 27

Serotonin

Answer 27

Relates mood and impulse control
Low levels linked to impulsive criminal behaviour

Question 28

Dopamine

Answer 28

High levels associated wit pleasure which makes it more likely for someone to become addicted and commit cares in order to access drugs

Question 29

Supporting research of serotonin

Answer 29

Moir and Jessel
- cite a number of human and animal studies which suggest a link between low levels or serotonin and aggression which is linked to criminal behaviour

Question 30

Supporting evidence of dopamine

Answer 30

Buitlelaar
- found juvenile delinquents given dopamine antagonist which reduce levels of dopamine, showed decrease in aggressive behaviour

Question 31

Weaknesses to neurotransmitter explanations

Answer 31

• reductionist, simply complex criminal behaviour to biological factors, don’t take in environmental factors such as parenting
• overly simplistic links between neurotransmitter imbalances and criminal behaviour centre around aggressive behaviour so cant explain all types of crime

Question 32

Strengths of neurotransmitters

Answer 32

Real world application
- help researchers develop treatment to reduce aggressive criminal behaviour
- eg prisons given diners ht enhance serotonin levels and decrease aggressive levels