Biological Theories Flashcards
What did Lombroso think
Criminals had failed to evolve at the same pace as the human race which give them atavistic features
Atavistic features
High cheekbones
Flattened or upturned nose
Low, sloped forehead
Large ears
Large jaw
Long arms in proportion to other limbs
Lombrosos view of murderers
Curly hair, bloodshot eyes
Lombroso view of sex offender
Thick lips, protruding ears
Lombrosos suggested non physical features of criminal
Insensitive to pain
Uses slang
Has tattoos
Is unemployed
Sheldons view on criminals
Criminal personality is reflected by body shape.
Mesomorph is most likely
Ectomorph is least likely
Endomorph features
Round, soft, fat
Sociable, relaxed, outgoing
Ectomorph features
Thin, fragile
Introverted, restrained, self conscious
Mesomorph features
Muscular, hard bodied
Aggressive, adventurous, sensation seeking, assertive
Lombroso theory unscientific research
Based on facial measurements of criminals, no control group, decrease credibility
Lombroso contradicting research
Goring (1913) found no English prisoners had distinctive features noted. Discredits the theory
Sheldons only focused in criminals
Not all Mesomorphs are criminals.
Sheldon doesn’t account for other criminals
Ectomorphs and endomorphs can be criminal. Doesnt explain all criminals
Sheldon- somatype not fixed
Bodies change. He doesn’t detail whether this changes personality or behaviour
Sheldon- body type isnt biological
Manual jobs make a muscular body. Sociological explanations must be considered
What are the two physiological theories
Sheldon, Lombroso
What is Jacobs XYY study
Criminals are born with an additional Y chromosome making them ‘super males’ with high testosterone causing aggression.
How were XYY patients over represented
1 in 1000 in population
15 in 1000 in prisons
What are the symptoms of super males
Tall, well built, acne, low intelligence
XYY Contradicting research
Theilgaard- characteristics of aggression weren’t associated with XYY men after studying XY men. Decreases credibility
XYY Social and economic factors
Large evidence of upbringing and income affecting behaviour. Limited explanation
What do twin studies measure
Concordance rates (rate of similarity)
What do twin studies imply
Mz twins are more likely to both be criminals than Dz twins as they share 100% DNA
Lange findings
10/13 Mz twins have both been to prison
2/17 Dz twins have both been to prison
Christiansen findings
35% Male Mz cc rate
13% Male Dz cc rate
21% Female Mz cc rate
8% Female Dz cc rate
Lange and Christiansen findings meaning
Mz twins are more likely to both be criminals as they are genetically similar
Weakness of twin studies (NvN)
Nature and nurture cannot separate. They share the same genes and environment.
Weakness of twin studies (sample)
Small sample sizes as it is rare to have Mz twins both criminal and willing to participate, cannot generalise
Strength of twin studies
Naturally occurring variable means no researcher bias, high validity
Adoption studies view
If a child is more similar to biological parents criminally, a genetic basis of criminality is suggested.
Hutchings and Mednick
14,000 adoptees with court convictions, many had criminal biological parents, especially sons and fathers
Weakness of adoption studies (age)
Age may influence as if not adopted at birth, they will have environmental influence from biological parents.
Weakness of adoption studies (adoption process)
Not aways random, may be given to other (similar) family members, hard to separate nature and nurture
