Chapter 6

Question 1

what are the four broad categories of biological theories

Answer 1

1) those that look at genetic factors and focus on physical features, evolution of gene pool, heredity 2) consider ways in which external factors such as diet, hormones, and enviro contaminants affect body chemistry 3) sociobiology emphasizing bio basis of all social behaviour 4) emergence of biosocial criminology emphasizing interactions tween bio and physical enviro in human behaviour

Question 2

what is the biological theory?

Answer 2

theory that maintains that the basic determinants of human behaviour are constitutionally or physiologically based and often inherited

Question 3

fundamental assumptions of bio theories:

Answer 3

brain is organ of mind and locus of personality, basic determinants of human behaviour are constitutionally/genetically based, observed gender and racial diffs in rates/types of criminality may be due to bio diffs between sexes and races, tendency toward crime may be inherited, instinctive behavioural responses characteristic of bio organisms everywhere (eg. territoriality and acquisitiveness), bio roots of conduct have become increasingly disguised cuz modern forms of indirect expressive behaviour have replaced direct ones, at least some human behaviour is result of bio propensities inherited from more primitive developmental stages in evolution process

Question 4

application of sci techniques to the study of crime and criminals, valid knowledge acquired only thru observation and not just reason or belief

Answer 4

positivism

Question 5

early positivism built on these 2 important principles:

Answer 5

1) unflagging acceptance of social determinism or the belief that all human behaviour is determined not by the exercise of free choice but by causative factors beyond the control of the individual 2) application of sci techniques to study of crime and criminology

Question 6

term used by Cesare Lombroso to suggest that criminals are physiological throwbacks to earlier stages of human evolution

Answer 6

atavism

Question 7

perspective in criminology developed in late 1800s that held that criminals can be identified by physical features and are throwbacks to earlier stages of human evolution

Answer 7

Italian school of criminology

Question 8

sci study of relationship between human physical characteristics and criminality

Answer 8

criminal anthropology

Question 9

term used by Cesare Lombroso to describe occasional criminals who were pulled into criminality primarily by enviro influences

Answer 9

criminaloid

Question 10

theories that explain criminality by reference to offenders’ body types, inheritance, genetics, or external observable physical characteristics

Answer 10

constitutional theories

Question 11

classification of human beings into types according to body build and other physical characteristics

Answer 11

somatotyping

Question 12

body type described as soft/round/overweight

Answer 12

endomorph

Question 13

fragile and thin body type

Answer 13

ectomorph

Question 14

muscular body type

Answer 14

mesomorph

Question 15

examples of criminal families

Answer 15

Juke, Kallikak

Question 16

study of hereditary improvement by genetic control

Answer 16

eugenics

Question 17

perspective that holds that the root causes of criminality are passed from gen to gen in the form of bad genes

Answer 17

eugenic criminology

Question 18

belief that genes are the major determining factor in human behaviour

Answer 18

genetic determinism

Question 19

what is a superman?

Answer 19

XYY chromosome structure (Klinefelter’s syndrome)

Question 20

gene responsible or production of enzyme called monoamine oxidase which is crucially involved in the process by which signals are transmitted within brain, associated aggressive behaviour

Answer 20

MAO-A

Question 21

hormones connected with aggression

Answer 21

high testosterone, low serotonin

Question 22

attitudes and behaviour that results from strong feelings of identification with one’s own social group

Answer 22

tribalism

Question 23

criticisms of sociobiology

Answer 23

fail to convey overwhelming significance of culture, social learning, individual experience; fundamentally wrong in depiction of basic nature of human beings; empirically unsupported rationale for authoritative labelling and stigmatization of despised minorities , humans diff from animals so animal studies not applicable

Question 24

5 constitutional factors in biosocial criminology:

Answer 24

gender, age, body type, intelligence, personality

Question 25

theoretical perspective that sees interaction between bio and physical and social enviros to understand behaviour

Answer 25

biosocial criminology