eugenics Flashcards
what was the original idea for eugenics
to increase the amount of ‘desirable’ heritable characteristics and decrease the amount of undesirable ones such as the criminal gene via sterilisation
why and when was eugenics discredited
in 20th century as it is unscientific and racially biased. mainly discredited after the adoption of its ideas by the nazis during the holocaust
what theories supports eugenics
lombroso
twin study’s
sheldon
adoption
what did besemer and farrington find
strong intergenerational transmission of criminal behaviour over 5 generations
which country/state still uses it and what does this show
alabama usa
it is socially constructed
what does it reinforce
biological determinism and that biology determines our behaviour and we can’t change it
explain the nazi sterilisation programme
- advocated higher rates of sexual reproduction for people with desirable traits, ryan trace
- lombrosso influenced this, created a list of criminal atavistic features, nazis partly based their programmes off this
STRENGTH: what did osborn and west find and how is this a strength
40% of boys whose fathers had criminal records also had criminal records just over 12% of boys who father didn’t have a criminal record
evidence it can be intergenerational
STRENGTH: how can mednick et al be a strength
found a relation between biological father having criminal record and their biological sons having one
WEAKNESS: how is it unethical
it’s against human rights to take away right to reproduce, cause psychological harm
WEAKNESS: can all crime be explained biologically
no, some are due to environmental factors and so eugenics wouldn’t solve
WEAKNESS: what could it lead to
genocide/hate crime like when nazis used it as racist attack in WW2
