Biological Theories

Question 1

What is Jacobs XYY theory?

Answer 1

• Refers to an extra Y chromosome in males

- Makes men more aggressive and a higher chance of being criminal

Question 2

Strengths of Jacobs XYY

Answer 2

• XYY males are very common in prison, 15 out of 1000 prisoners
• Adler found that aggression and bookend tendencies are somewhat determined by genetic factors

Question 3

Limitations of Jacob XYY

Answer 3

• Doesn’t explain women committing crime

- Deterministic and assumes that all XYY males are destined to commit crime

Question 4

What is Sheldons theory

Answer 4

• Somatotypes

Question 5

What were sheldons body types

Answer 5

• Ectomorphic, thin ans fragile
• Endomorphic, fat ans soft
• Mesomorphic, muscular and hard

Question 6

What body type is the more criminal?

Answer 6

• Mesomorphic

Question 7

Strengths of Sheldon

Answer 7

• Had a large sample that compared offenders to non offenders
• Research showed that 60% of a delinquent sample was mesomorphic whilst non delinquent was only 31%

Question 8

Limitations of Sheldon

Answer 8

• Ecto and endo also commit crime, contradicts sheldon

- Body type is not fixed