Biological explanations - genetics

Question 1

What do twin studies suggest about criminal behaviour?

Answer 1

The concordance rate suggests there is a biological link

Question 2

What did Raine find?

Answer 2

Monozygotic twins have a 52% concordance rate and dizygotic twins a 21% concordance rate

Question 3

What is the problem with genetic explanations?

Answer 3

There is no criminal gene

Question 4

Who conducted a family study?

Answer 4

Farrington

Question 5

What did Farrington find?

Answer 5

Offending is strongly concentrated in families

Question 6

What are adoption studies used to determine?

Answer 6

Whether biology or environment cause criminal behaviour

Question 7

What is the diathesis-stress model of crime?

Answer 7

Having a genetic predisposition to crime and being in stressful environments makes you more likely to activate those genes and commit crime, while being in a stress-free environment leaves those genes dormant

Question 8

What did Mednick find?

Answer 8

Having no criminal parents led to 13.5% committing a crime, when either biological or adopted adults are criminal, 20% committed a crime, and 24% when both sets had a criminal record