Causes of crime

Question 1

Name three biological theories of crime

Answer 1

Lombrosso’s biological theory, warrior gene theory, supermale syndrome theory.

Question 2

Name three psychological theories of crime

Answer 2

Pyschodynamic theory, behavioural theory, cognitive theory

Question 3

Name three sociological theories of crime

Answer 3

ACEs, strain theory and marxism

Question 4

What does NURTURE mean in terms of nature vs nurture?

Answer 4

Nurture refers to the experiences and influences we experience and how they may lead to taking part in criminal activity.

Question 5

What does NATURE mean in terms of nature vs nurture?

Answer 5

Nature refers to our biological genes and how they may lead to taking part in criminal activity

Question 6

Who created Pyschodynamic theory?

Answer 6

Sigmund Freud

Question 7

Who created biological theory?

Answer 7

Cesare Lombrosso in 1876

Question 8

What are some examples of the atavistic features within Lombrosso’s biological theory?

Answer 8

Large ears, large jaws, high cheek bones, extra nipples, fingers and toes, thick skulls

Question 9

How is Lombrosso’s theory limited?

Answer 9

He only considered the bodies of convicted criminals and did not consider social environment. Every person will commit at least one crime in their life.

Question 10

What are the genes considered in supermale syndrome theory?

Answer 10

Females carry XX, most males carry XY, males with supermale syndrome carry XYY, this gene was believed to be linked to violent crimes and anger.

Question 11

What are limitations of the supermale symdrome theory?

Answer 11

More aggressive crimes, such as murder, were not linked to men with the XYY chromosome in any higher levels than those without. It also confirmed that having this syndrome in itself does not produce aggressive behaviour in those affected; this had more to do with the social environment they were living in, including factors such as poverty and deprivation.​

Question 12

Statistic for men with supermale syndrome.

Answer 12

Nearly 4% of prison populations have the XYY trait, compared to only 0.1% of the general population.​

Question 13

Background of warrior gene.

Answer 13

Hans Brunner, in the 1960s, had a patient who carried a defective gene that limited the bodies ability to naturally produce seratonin.
This patient had a family history of violent crimes, such as rape and murder.
This gene was names the warrior gene, as carriers of the gene are more likely to commit a higher crime.

Question 14

Limitations of the warrior gene theory?

Answer 14

Not every person who carries this gene have never committed a violent crime.

Question 15

An example of a case of the warrior gene (HINT: think of the murder of penny)

Answer 15

In 2006, Bradley Waldroup committed the extremely violent and planned murder of his ex-wife, Penny. While it was clear that he was responsible for the murder, prosecutors and defence lawyers worked hard to find why he had done it.​
Bradley was found to carry the Warrior Gene, but not only that, had been a victim of serious abuse as a child.

Question 16

How is the warrior gene linked to child abuse? Provide an example.

Answer 16

Studies have shown that possessing the Warrior Gene in combination with experiencing abuse as a child makes a person 4 times more likely to be convicted of a violent offence.

Question 17

Explain the behaviourism theory.

Answer 17

Behaviourists consider crimes as learned responses to life’s situations. It is believed that people change their behaviour according to the reactions this behaviour gives other people. Children learn violence through observations of others, such as the media they consume or family experiences.

Question 18

Example of the behaviourism theory in action.

Answer 18

Jacoby (2004) found that children who are aggressive are more likely to have parents or caretakers who are aggressive.