Criminal behaviour- Biological explanations

Question 1

What does inherited criminality propose?

Answer 1

That certain genetic combinations predispose individuals to criminal behaviour

Question 2

What is inherited criminality?

Answer 2

Criminal behaviour can be inherited through genes linked to impulsivity and aggression so individuals have an increased risk of showing criminal behaviour

Question 3

Who conducted research into the family?

Answer 3

Osborne and West

Question 4

What did Osborne and West find?

Answer 4

13% of sons with non-criminal fathers had criminal records, while 40% of sons of fathers criminal fathers had records

Question 5

What does Osborne and West’s research suggest?

Answer 5

criminal behaviour may be inherited, higher rates of criminality seen in sons with criminal fathers

Question 6

How can you evaluate Osborne and West’s study?

Answer 6

X environmental factors, exposed to crime
X upbringing, modelling, socialisation
X cannot say for sure that it is an inherited trait

Question 7

Who conducted a study into twin research?

Answer 7

Raine

Question 8

What did Raine find in his research into twins?

Answer 8

Reviewed the literature comparing the delinquent behaviour of twins
- average concordance rate was higher for MZ twins (52%) than DZ twins (21%)

Question 9

What do concordance rates mean?

Answer 9

Rate of probability that 2 people with shared genes will develop the same conditions

Question 10

What does Raine’s research siuggest?

Answer 10

There is a genetic influence on criminal behaviour
- higher concordance rate in MZ than DZ

Question 11

How can we criticise Raine’s research?

Answer 11

X may have been brought up differently
X not 100% concordance rate so there must be some other factor influencing the development of criminal behaviour
-raised in the same environment, hard to separate nature and nurture influence

Question 12

Is crime caused by genes?

Answer 12

• there isn’t a single gene for crime but there are genes such as impulsivity or aggression
• you could carry the gene but not necessarily act on them

Question 13

What do Goldsmith and Gottsman say about crime being caused by genes?

Answer 13

‘may be partially genetically influenced predispositions for basic behavioural tendencies such as impulsivity’

Question 14

What are the 2 candidate genes?

Answer 14

1- MAOA gene
2- CDH13 (cadherin 13)

Question 15

What are candidate genes?

Answer 15

Genes identified that could play a role in the development of a disease/disorder

Question 16

What is the nickname for MAOA?

Answer 16

The warrior gene

Question 17

What is the role of the MAOA gene?

Answer 17

It breaks down the neurotransmitters, not enough to break down
- increased risk of antisocial behaviour

Question 18

What neurotransmitters are linked to MAOA?

Answer 18

serotonin and dopamine

Question 19

What behaviours is MAOA linked to?

Answer 19

Impulsivity and aggression

Question 20

How does Bruner et al support this?

Answer 20

28 males in a Dutch family, history of impulsive and violent criminal behaviour
- men shared mutation in the MAOA gene = low levels of it
- could be inherited
- families can pass on this gene

Question 21

How can we evaluate Bruner et al study?

Answer 21

It cannot be generalised as it is only one family with one shared gene

Question 22

What is CDH13?

Answer 22

A gene involved in neural connectivity
- how the brain sends messages

Question 23

How is CDH13 linked to criminal behaviour?

Answer 23

It is unclear how the dysfunction of CDH13 gene leads to violent behaviour

Question 24

What is CDH13 linked to?

Answer 24

ADHD, depression, substance misuse and Autistic spectrum conditions

Question 25

Who supports CDH13 with their research?

Answer 25

Tiihoen et al

Question 26

What does Tiihoen et al find?

Answer 26

900 Finnish offenders
- evidence of low MAOA activity and also low activity of CDH13
- ESTIMATED 5-10% of all violent crime in Finland is due to abnormalities in these 2 genes

Question 27

Why does this research support the genetic explanation of criminal behaviour?

Answer 27

A combination of both candidate genes may lead to criminal behaviour
- inheriting both candidate genes puts you at risk of criminal behaviour

Question 28

How can we evaluate Tiihoen et al?

Answer 28

Huge sample size, not just one family
- more generalisable

Question 29

What is the diathesis stress model?

Answer 29

Inherited predisposition to develop the disorder + parental trauma, abuse etc = psychological disorder

Question 30

Diathesis stress model

Answer 30

MAOA or CDH13 = stress, environmental = criminal behaviour

Question 31

How does this model explain criminality?

Answer 31

Whilst someone may have the genetic predisposition to criminal behaviour, it would need to be triggered by some form of environmental factor

Question 32

What does Caspi et al find in relation to the diathesis stress model?

Answer 32

Longitudinal study of 1000 people born in 70s
- Asocial behaviour assessed at 26
- 12% of men who had MAOA gene mutation experienced maltreatment in child hood AND were responsible for 44% of violent convictions

Question 33

Evaluation of Caspi et al

Answer 33

• big sample size
• temporal validity

Question 34

What is the 1st biological explanation of criminal behaviour?

Answer 34

Inherited criminality