Biological Theories

Question 1

Name a biological theory of crime

Answer 1

Atavism - lombrosso - 1876
Stomatatypes - William sheldon - 1946
Brain theories - Raine
Genetic theories
Xxx syndrome
Biochemistry

Question 2

What are some atavistic features

Answer 2

• low slipping forehead
• high cheek bones
• massive jaws
• accute eyesight
  -REALY long arms
  -handle shaped ears

Question 3

How many people did lombrosso study ?

Answer 3

383 dead , 3839 alive

Faces and photos and scetches of criminals

Question 4

Strengths and limitations or atavism

Answer 4

Strengths - a lot of criminals had similar features
Limitations - scientifically racist , could create mass discrimination and stereotyping , not all criminals had these features , limited to his area - couldent travel far

Question 5

In what year did lombrosso identify three types of criminals what were they

Answer 5

1879

Born criminals - atavistic type
Insane criminal - mental illness
Criminaloids - predisposed to criminal behaviour

Question 6

What are shelldons three body types ?

Answer 6

Endomorph - fat
Ectomorph - skinny
Mesomorph - muscular

Question 7

What are shelldons three body types personalities

Answer 7

Endomorph - happy , relaxed
Extomorph - fragile , self conscience
Mesomorph - adventurous , domineering , enjoy physical activity

Question 8

What was shelldons study

Answer 8

Got a group of delinquents and school boys and rated them 1-7 in how they resembled Mesomorphy , conclusion the delinquents most resembled mesomorphy

Question 9

Strengths and limitations of shelldons study

Answer 9

S
L - weight can fluctuate , ignores rational choice

Question 10

Link between prefrontal cortex and the amyglada in crime

Answer 10

Amyglada sits in prefrontal cortex
The smaller it is the more likely to be criminal

Amyglada - processing emotions
Prefrontal cortex - regulating behaviour

Men’s are smaller naturally
90% of homicides are committed by men

Question 11

S and w of Brian theories and disorders

Answer 11

S
clear correlation with EEG scans and criminality
Prisoners are more likely to have Brian injuries
Clear evidence with multiple studies

W
Brain can change and develop
Brain issues result of violence not criminality
Brian injury is rare
Can’t scan everyone

Question 12

Two genetic theory studies

Answer 12

Twin study - Lange 1929
Mz twins had high concordance rate

Christiansen - 1977
Studied 3587 twins
52% mz concordance
22% dz concordance

Adoption study - mednick 1975
See if adopted children were like bio parents
Nature vs nurture

Question 13

S and w for twin study

Answer 13

S
All studies support eachother
Large no of ppl tested

W
No environmental factors
High CR rate may be due to similar enviy

Question 14

Describe xxy syndrome

Answer 14

And additional Y chromosome that give features which could spark criminality:
- tall
- acne
- dumb
- well built
- anti social

1 in 1000 have it and 88% are undiagnosed

Question 15

S and w of xxy syndrome

Answer 15

S - takes into account multiple type of crime
Clear link between offenders and xxy

W
Rare gene
Only applies to violent offences
No proof bad behaviour is down to xxy
Conviction could be based on stereotypes

Question 16

Biochemical theories of crime

Answer 16

Biochemical substances can alter a persons mood due to the difference in metal processing
Eg - alcohol , drugs foods serotonin adrenaline nicotine vitamin b low blood sugar

M : testosterone
F : PMT , lactation

Question 17

S and w to biochemical theories

Answer 17

S-
Already adopted in courts
Everyone experinaces it

W
Some things require and environmental trigger

Everyone has diff limits

Question 18

General criticism of biological theories

Answer 18

• male focused
• ignore environmental factors
• crime bias
• sample bias
• social construction of crime varies per place