Biological Theories

Question 1

What did Lombroso think

Answer 1

Criminals had failed to evolve at the same pace as the human race which give them atavistic features

Question 2

Atavistic features

Answer 2

High cheekbones
Flattened or upturned nose
Low, sloped forehead
Large ears
Large jaw
Long arms in proportion to other limbs

Question 3

Lombrosos view of murderers

Answer 3

Curly hair, bloodshot eyes

Question 4

Lombroso view of sex offender

Answer 4

Thick lips, protruding ears

Question 5

Lombrosos suggested non physical features of criminal

Answer 5

Insensitive to pain
Uses slang
Has tattoos
Is unemployed

Question 6

Sheldons view on criminals

Answer 6

Criminal personality is reflected by body shape.
Mesomorph is most likely
Ectomorph is least likely

Question 7

Endomorph features

Answer 7

Round, soft, fat
Sociable, relaxed, outgoing

Question 8

Ectomorph features

Answer 8

Thin, fragile
Introverted, restrained, self conscious

Question 9

Mesomorph features

Answer 9

Muscular, hard bodied
Aggressive, adventurous, sensation seeking, assertive

Question 10

Lombroso theory unscientific research

Answer 10

Based on facial measurements of criminals, no control group, decrease credibility

Question 11

Lombroso contradicting research

Answer 11

Goring (1913) found no English prisoners had distinctive features noted. Discredits the theory

Question 12

Sheldons only focused in criminals

Answer 12

Not all Mesomorphs are criminals.

Question 13

Sheldon doesn’t account for other criminals

Answer 13

Ectomorphs and endomorphs can be criminal. Doesnt explain all criminals

Question 14

Sheldon- somatype not fixed

Answer 14

Bodies change. He doesn’t detail whether this changes personality or behaviour

Question 15

Sheldon- body type isnt biological

Answer 15

Manual jobs make a muscular body. Sociological explanations must be considered

Question 16

What are the two physiological theories

Answer 16

Sheldon, Lombroso

Question 17

What is Jacobs XYY study

Answer 17

Criminals are born with an additional Y chromosome making them ‘super males’ with high testosterone causing aggression.

Question 18

How were XYY patients over represented

Answer 18

1 in 1000 in population
15 in 1000 in prisons

Question 19

What are the symptoms of super males

Answer 19

Tall, well built, acne, low intelligence

Question 20

XYY Contradicting research

Answer 20

Theilgaard- characteristics of aggression weren’t associated with XYY men after studying XY men. Decreases credibility

Question 21

XYY Social and economic factors

Answer 21

Large evidence of upbringing and income affecting behaviour. Limited explanation

Question 22

What do twin studies measure

Answer 22

Concordance rates (rate of similarity)

Question 23

What do twin studies imply

Answer 23

Mz twins are more likely to both be criminals than Dz twins as they share 100% DNA

Question 24

Lange findings

Answer 24

10/13 Mz twins have both been to prison
2/17 Dz twins have both been to prison

Question 25

Christiansen findings

Answer 25

35% Male Mz cc rate 13% Male Dz cc rate 21% Female Mz cc rate 8% Female Dz cc rate

Question 26

Lange and Christiansen findings meaning

Answer 26

Mz twins are more likely to both be criminals as they are genetically similar

Question 27

Weakness of twin studies (NvN)

Answer 27

Nature and nurture cannot separate. They share the same genes and environment.

Question 28

Weakness of twin studies (sample)

Answer 28

Small sample sizes as it is rare to have Mz twins both criminal and willing to participate, cannot generalise

Question 29

Strength of twin studies

Answer 29

Naturally occurring variable means no researcher bias, high validity

Question 30

Adoption studies view

Answer 30

If a child is more similar to biological parents criminally, a genetic basis of criminality is suggested.

Question 31

Hutchings and Mednick

Answer 31

14,000 adoptees with court convictions, many had criminal biological parents, especially sons and fathers

Question 32

Weakness of adoption studies (age)

Answer 32

Age may influence as if not adopted at birth, they will have environmental influence from biological parents.

Question 33

Weakness of adoption studies (adoption process)

Answer 33

Not aways random, may be given to other (similar) family members, hard to separate nature and nurture