Biological Theories - Genetic

Question 1

Osborne and West
- Family / Twin

Answer 1

• Compared sons criminality of criminal and non criminal fathers
• Found 13% of sons from non criminal fathers had a conviction and 40% of sons from criminal fathers had a conviction

Question 2

Christiansen
- Family / Twin

Answer 2

• Studied 3586 pairs of twins in Denmark
• Found concordance rate of 35% for MZ twins and 13% for DZ twins
• Smaller rates and similar patterns found in females
• Dalgard and Kringlens study supported

Question 3

Crowe
- Adoption studies

Answer 3

• If an adoptees biological mother had a criminal conviction they had a 50% chance of also having this
• If not it was only 5%

Question 4

Mendicks
- Adoption studies

Answer 4

• Growing up around and having biological links to criminality may have a similar effect and influence on the adoptee

Question 5

Jacobs XYY theory

Answer 5

• Found some males have additional Y chromosome - referred to as supermales
• Typical features : facial acne, cant control emotions, likelihood to be violent, average height of 6ft and learning difficulties
• Men are usually more aggressive and violent so adding another chromosome emphasizes this.