biological theories

Question 1

what does atavism suggest

Answer 1

criminals have destinctive features that explain their criminality.

Question 2

what did lombroso belive was born and throwbacks to

Answer 2

he belived criminals were born and throwbacks to savage like apes

Question 3

what features did he discover in identifyin criminals

Answer 3

• high cheek bones
• large eye sockets
• flat noses

Question 4

what was lombroso’s study

Answer 4

he studied 4000 criminals alive and dead and recorded their features. he found that 40% had atavistic features

Question 5

one strengths for atavism

Answer 5

1) first person to use objective meausres in identifying criminals and found a way to prevent crime

Question 6

2 limitations for atavism

Answer 6

1) study only account for 40%, what about majority 60%
2) not everyone with atavistic features is criminal

Question 7

what does biochemical suggest

Answer 7

that biochemical imbalances influence our behaviour

Question 8

how do sex hormones affect us

Answer 8

testostrone causes violent outburts

Question 9

how does blood sugar affect us

Answer 9

low blood sugar leads to aggression

Question 10

how does substance abuse affect us

Answer 10

alcohol abuse and drugs such as cocaine leads to violent outburts

Question 11

2 strengths of biochemical

Answer 11

1) recognised in court and writted into judicial precidents
2) evidence shows biochemical imbalances effects behaviour

Question 12

2 limitations of biochemical

Answer 12

1) may create a disposition to offending but needs an enviromental trigger
2) effects of biochemical may be overstated

Question 13

what did sheldon suggest

Answer 13

criminals are physically diffrent. somototypes are linked to criminal behaviour

Question 14

what are the 3 somosotypes

Answer 14

1) endomorphs: round, fat, lack muscle, outgoing
2) ectomorphs: thin, fragile, lack muscle and fat, intoverted
3) mesomorphs: muscular build, little fat, extremists and extroverts

Question 15

what somototype is more likely to be criminal

Answer 15

mesomorphs as they are attracted to risk taking and their build helps commit crime

Question 16

2 strengths of sheldon’s somotoypes

Answer 16

1) Glueck and Glueck found 60% of of criminals had mesomorphic builds
2) study shows that the mesomorphic criminals were most violent

Question 17

2 limitations of sheldon’s somototypes

Answer 17

1) criminals can build a mesomorphic body to commit crime meaning somotoypes causes criminality rather.
2) sheldon doesn’t account for the criminals with ectomorphic and endomorphic bodies.

Question 18

what does Jacob’s XXY syndrome theory suggest

Answer 18

genetic abnormailies can cause criminal behaviour

Question 19

what is the problem with chromosomes

Answer 19

normally we have 46 chromososmes, 23 from mum and 23 from dad, an extra Y chromosome causes the problem

Question 20

what does an extra y chromosome mean

Answer 20

men with an extra y chromosome tend to be more tall, well built, lack intelligence and more aggressive and violent

Question 21

what did the study Jacob do find

Answer 21

he found that criminals in this psychiatric hospital had a more than average rate of having an extra Y chromosome.

Question 22

2 strengths of XYY

Answer 22

1) found a link between violent crimes and XYY
2) Found a link between property crime and XYY

Question 23

2 limitations of XYY

Answer 23

1) it is rare, it only affects 1 in 1000 men meaning it doesn’t explain much crime
2) even if some violent offenders have this it doesn’t mean it causes their violence