Biological Explanations Of OB

Question 1

Avatistic

Answer 1

Lombrosso
Innate characteristics predispose criminal behaviour
-face symmetry
-eye defects

Question 2

Empirical evidence

Answer 2

Using post mortem

43% of criminals had at least 5 atavistic traits

Question 3

Environmental influences

Answer 3

Atavistic form interacted with social environment so that there are:
Born criminals
Insane criminals
Criminaloids - due to environment

Question 4

Somatotypes

Answer 4

3 body types related to crimes:

• ectomorphs (tall and lanky)
• endomorphs (short and fat)
• mesomorphs (muscly)

Question 5

Genetic

Answer 5

Evidence for genes from twin studies

Question 6

Candidate genes

Answer 6

Low levels of MAOA present in 28 male members of a Dutch family who had histories of impulsive and violent criminal behaviours

Question 7

Diathesis stress

Answer 7

Longitudinal study found that 12% of men had low MAOA gene and had also been badly treated in childhood, accounted for 44% of violent convictions

Question 8

Neural

Answer 8

Brain regions

Question 9

Brain damage

Answer 9

8.5% of IS population have brain damage compared to 60% in prisons

Question 10

Prefrontal cortex

Answer 10

Reduced functioning in violent individuals

Question 11

Limbic system

Answer 11

Symmetries found in murderers

Question 12

Serotonin

Answer 12

Low levels predispose individuals to aggression and crime levels

Question 13

Noradrenaline

Answer 13

Extreme levels linked to aggression