Biological Explanation - Forensic Psychology Flashcards
LOMBROSO - Historical Influence
it played an important role in advancing criminology and scientific explanations of criminal behaviour
shifted discussion towards more scientific explanations
LOMBROSO - methodology = weak
Did not have a control group of non - criminals
could of been common characteristics in general population
LOMBROSO - study support (G)
Goring (1913)
- found evidence that criminals tended to have a lower than average intelligence
!! may mean crime is due to lack of education than biological factors
LOMBROSO - socially sensitive?
lead to stereotyping + discrimination based on a person’s looks
LOMBROSO - Links to Issues + Debates
biological determinism
reductionist
GENETIC - good supporting evidence (C)
Christiansen (1977)
- sample of 3,500 twins
- concordance for criminality was higher for MZ twins
GENETIC - Issues + Debates Links
deterministic
GENETIC - legal + moral issues
it is hard to hold someone morally responsible for criminal actions if they didn’t choose them
man killed a pizza shop manager and said he was ‘born to kill’ - family were murderers
GENETIC - case study (Jim Fallon)
- he has low activity prefrontal cortex + defective version of MAOA gene
!! isn’t a serial killer as he had a good childhood – nurture over nature
NEURAL - not seen constantly
- many criminals do not have APD or abnormal brain structure
theories only explain a small minority of extreme cases
NEURAL - brain imaging techniques (good)
- provides objective clinical evidence
- good reliability
NEURAL - links to issues + debates
biologically deterministic
