biological explanations of offending : genetics

Question 1

twin studies

Answer 1

Christiansen (1977) - concordance rates of 33% for MZ and 12% for DZ for criminal behaviour

Question 2

adoption studies

Answer 2

Crowe (1972) - adopted whose biological mum has a criminal record had 50% risk by 18
-children whose biological mum doesn’t have criminal is 5%

Question 3

candidate genes

Answer 3

Tiihonen (2014) low activity with MAOA gene (low serotonin and dopamine) and CDH13 gene (substance abuse) may be associated with violent crime
-lack of replication

Question 4

diathesis-stress

Answer 4

-the tendency for criminal behaviour is genetic but likely triggered by environment
-traumatic or dysfunctional childhood

Question 5

weakness - issues with twins studies

Answer 5

-MZ twins are treated more similarly than DZ
-shared identical environment

Question 6

strength - support for diathesis stress

Answer 6

Mednick (1984) - 13,000 danish adoptees
-0 biological criminal = 13.5%
-1 parent with criminal = 20%
-both parents with criminal = 24.5%
may have genetic basis with environment

Question 7

weakness - implications of biological

Answer 7

-may argue that it is not their fault
-more free will

Question 8

weakness - reductionism

Answer 8

-simplify it down to just genetics
-don’t acknowledge environmental trigger