biological theories

Question 1

summarise Lombroso’s atavistic form theory (physiological)

Answer 1

criminals were different species that exhibited various mental and physical characteristics that set them apart. A born criminal is an atavism were physical makeup, mental capacity and instincts are like that of the primitive man. .

Question 2

summarise Sheldon’s theory of soma types (physiological)

Answer 2

there are 3 different body types which have 3 different perosnalities. Certain types were more likely to occur in criminal populations he noted from a rehabilitation centre the was a large proportion of males that were mesomorph

Question 3

summarise Jacob’s XYY chromosomal abnormality theory (genetic)

Answer 3

super male syndrome was created to explain hyper-masculine offenders responsible for serious crimes, aggressive and lacking in intelligence and have an extra Y chromosome.

Question 4

summarise Mednick’s adoption and biological parent study (genetic)

Answer 4

Mednick believed that when your parent had a criminal conviction their children were more likely to as well. it was also wondered whether an adoptive parents convictions made a child more likely to commit crimes

Question 5

summarise Christiansen’s twin studies(genetic)

Answer 5

recent studies show a low estimate for heritability of criminality unlike early twin studies that found a higher concordance for criminality amongst MZ and DZ. Christiansen’s study found a high concordance of criminality in twins born between 1881 and 1910.

Question 6

name 2 cases that support the brain damage and injury theory (brain structure)

Answer 6

Charles Whitman and Phineas Gage

Question 7

what are the 3 section of the chemical and diet theory (brain structures)

Answer 7

biochemical, nutrition, hormones and testosterone

Question 8

explain the biochemical part of the chemical and diet theory

Answer 8

allergies, environmental conditions (artificial lighting) and diet (food additives).

Question 9

explain the nutrition part of the chemical and diet theory

Answer 9

food allergies have been found to increase hypersensitivity and ADHD. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies my be linked to criminality or anti-social behaviours

Question 10

what did virkkunen find that links to the chemical and diet theory

Answer 10

Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) has also been suggested as a factor which might affect brain function and contribute to antisocial behaviour

Question 11

what did Gesch find that links to the nutrition part of the chemical and diet theory

Answer 11

Gesch -found supplementing prisoner’s diets with physiological dosages of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids, caused a reduction in anti-social behaviour.

Question 12

explain the hormones and testosterone part of the chemical and diet theory and who backs this theory

Answer 12

Raine
from research on animals there is evidence to say that testosterone is a factor in aggressiveness. The same suggestion is made about the menstrual cycle as female prison inmates are more likely to commit violent crimes premenstrual rather than post menstrual.

Question 13

explain the case study of Charles Whitman in relation to the brain damage and injury theory

Answer 13

he killed 21 people during one day in 1966 an autopsy revealed that he had a large brain tumour which might have been affecting the area of the brain responsible for controlling aggressive urges (amygdala) injury or brain conditions can cause dramatic changes in personality and behaviour.

Question 14

explain the case study of Phineas Gage in relation to the brain damage and injury theory

Answer 14

he suffered a serious brain injury which destroyed most of the left side of his brain it effected his personality and behaviour over the remaining 12 yrs. of his life.

Question 15

what characteristics did Lombroso say that murders’ had

Answer 15

cold, glassy, blood shot eyes, curly abundant hair, strong jaw, long ears, thin lips.

Question 16

what characteristics did Lombroso say that sex offenders had

Answer 16

Sex offender- glinting eyes, strong jaw, thick lips, lots of hair, projecting ears.

Question 17

what did Lombroso say about female criminals

Answer 17

Female criminals- are also born. He concluded that female criminals were rare and suggested that they had not ‘degenerated’ in the same way as man because they had evolved less due to the inactive nature of their lives.

Question 18

what are the different soma types according to Sheldon and which personality types correspond

Answer 18

endomorph- viscertonic
ectomorph- somotonic
mesomorph- celebrotonic

Question 19

explain the case that supports Jacobs xyy theory

Answer 19

Arthur Shawcross- research in the 1970’s found some association with the extra chromosome and offending behaviour but gave no evidence of violent behaviour.

Question 20

what were Osbourne and Wests findings in relation to Mednick’s theory

Answer 20

comparing sons of criminal and non-criminals’ fathers 13% of sons from the non-criminal fathers had a criminal conviction. 40% of sons from criminal fathers had a criminal conviction.

Question 21

what were Hollin’s findings in relation to Mednick’s theory

Answer 21

it is equally consistent with the idea that criminal behaviour is learned within the family or that a third variable, such as poverty, accounts for criminal behaviour in both fathers and sons.

Question 22

what were Ainsworth’s findings in relation to Mednick’s theory

Answer 22

if we accept genetics play a role in criminality, we must explain why 60% of sons of criminals didn’t commit crimes and 13% of sons with non-criminal fathers did commit crime.

Question 23

what were Crowe’s findings in relation to Mednick’s theory

Answer 23

when a child’s biological mother had a criminal record the child had 50% chance of acquiring one by 18yrs old compared to a 5% risk of the child whose mother didn’t have a criminal record acquiring one.

Question 24

what were Hutchings and Mednick’s findings in relation to Mednick’s theory

Answer 24

Hutchings and Mednick- where neither biological or adoptive father had a criminal record the son went on to get a criminal record 10% of the time. The likelihood rose to 11% when the adoptive father had a criminal record and when the biological father had a criminal record it rose to 21% which rose to 36% when both fathers had a criminal record.

Question 25

what did Mednick later find about adoption studies

Answer 25

there was no relationship between the number of criminal convictions of adoptive parents and their children, there was a correlation between the number of criminal convictions of the biological parents and their offspring.