biological explanations Flashcards
atavistic form
An early biological explanation which proposed that criminals are a sub-species of genetic throwbacks that cannot conform to the rules of modern society.
Such individuals are distinguishable by particular facial and cranial characteristics.
lombroso (1876)
criminals are ‘genetic throwbacks’ with atavistic features. he linked specific features with different crimes.
different atavistic features and their links
- criminals: strong, prominent jaw, high cheekbones dark skin, extra nipples or toes
- murderers: aquiline nose, bloodshot eyes, curly hair and long ears
- sexual deviants: glinting eyes, swollen fleshy lips
- fraudster: thin and reedy lips
eugenics
genetically ‘unfit’ people should be prevented from breeding
key study
- aim: to find support for the argument that facial features are linked to criminal behaviour
- method: sampled 383 skulls of dead criminals and almost 4000 living ones to identify common features between the offenders.
- results: 40% of criminal acts were carried out by people with primitive physical characteristics
- conc: whether someone is a criminal type or not can be determined by their physical features
weakness- racially insensitive
Point: several critics have drawn attention to the distinct racial undertones within Lombroso’s work.
Evidence: For example, many of the features that Lombroso identified as criminal and atavistic such as curly hair, dark skin, and fleshy lips are most likely to be found on people with African descent.
Conclude/Impact: This is a weakness because describing the atavistic as being uncivilised, primitive and savage could lend support to many of the eugenics philosophies of the time. Such findings that provide ‘scientific evidence’ for racism could be misused by politicians with dangerous consequences. This makes the theory ‘socially sensitive’ as it could have negative impacts on certain groups of people.
weakness - gender bias
Point: The theory can be considered to be gender biased.
Evidence: he believed that women are less evolved than men and he didn’t study women directly but believed they were naturally passive, low in intelligence and therefore unlikely to become criminals. Also he thought that women who did become criminals had masculine traits which would be beneficial a to man, but made women ‘monsters’
Conclude/Impact: This is a weakness because these androcentric views are both gender bias and cultural bias as they were typical of the nineteenth century This also means that this theory lacks temporal validity as it not applicable to explaining criminal behaviour in the modern world.
strength - scientific
Point: Lombroso has been hailed as ‘the father of criminology ‘and he brought science to the study of crime.
Evidence: Because he based his theory on empirical observation and detailed measurement. He is credited with shifting the emphasis in crime research away from morals ( weak-minded) and criminal thinking patterns towards a more scientific approach (genetics and evolutionary influences). Also in trying to describe types of people he heralded the beginning of criminal profiling.
Conclude/Impact: This is a strength because in many ways Lombroso is heralded as beginning cranial profiling. In this way he made a major contribution to the science of criminology.
genetic explanations for crime
offenders inherit a gene, or combination of genes that predispose them to commit crime
twin studies
- lange (1930): 13 MZ twins and 17 DZ twins. one twin in each pair had served time in prison. results; 10 MZ, but only 2 DZ twins had both been in prison.
- christiansen (1977): 87 MZ and 147 DZ twins and found 33% MZ twuns had both been in prison, whilst only 12% DZ twins had, supporting genetic theory
candidate genes
- tihonen (2014): genetic analysis of 900 offenders and found abnormalities on 2 genes that may be associated with violent crime
— MAOA: controls dopamine and serotonin in the brain and has been linked to aggressive behaviour
— CDH13: linked to substance abuse and adhd - those with genetic abnormalities were 13 rimes more likely yo have a history of violent behaviour, however this research has not been replicated
diathesis- stress model
criminal behaviour may be genetically/biologically predisposed but is triggered/motivated by environmental factors e.g being raised in a dysfunctional environment or having criminal role models may trigger the underlying diathesis (offending tendecies) - an interactionist approach
neural explanations for crime
offending behaviour can be explained in terms of (dys)functions of the brain and nervous system. evidence for this theory comes from studies using individuals diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (apd).
apd is associated withe reduced emotional responses, a lack of empathy for the feelings of others and is a condition that characterises many criminals
prefrontal cortex
across many studies in teh apd brain, raine found that individuals with anti-social personalities had reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex (part of the brain which regulated emotional behaviour).
- raine (2000) found an 11% reduction in the volume of grey matter in the prefrontal cortex of people with apd compared to controls
mirror neurons
keysers et al (2001) found that only when criminals were asked to empathise with a person who was acting out experiencing pain on a film, did the neurons activate. suggests that apd individuals are not totally without empathy but may have a ‘switch’ which can turn on or off, unlike a ‘normal brain whose mirror neurons are constantly turned on.
