Evualution of biological theories

Question 1

What are the strengths for Lombrosos ‘born criminals’ theory?

Answer 1

-> 1st person to study criminality scientifically
->Researched showed importance of examining clinically and historical records of criminals
-> Displayed criminal behaviour is not a free choice, so instead of punishing there should be differing forms of preventing offenders commiting the crime.

Question 2

What are the weaknesses for Lombroso criminal theory of ‘born criminals’

Answer 2

->Failed to find a correlation between facial features and crime
-> Failed to compare with a control group - only studied one group.
-> Racism against the non-western societies. By calling criminals ‘primitive savages’.

Question 3

What are the strengths of twin studies?

Answer 3

-> MZ twins are identical, so it is logical to examine that their behaviour will be identical.
->Gives support to genetic explainations. Ishkawa and Raine find a higher concordance rate between MZ twins

Question 4

What are the limitations for MZ twins?

Answer 4

->Genes only cause for criminality=100% concordance rate.
->Impossible to isoalte gene factors and enviroment factors

Question 5

What were the strengths for the adoption studies?

Answer 5

-> Adoption studies allows gene factors to be separated from enviroment factors
-> research studies is logical and allows the ‘nature vs neture’ view

Question 6

What are the 3 limitations for the adoption studies?

Answer 6

-> Gottfredson and Hirschi = adoption = little effect on criminality
->many adopted children aren’t adopted instanteously. They remain with their biological family for some time. = early eviroment has an effect on criminality.
-> You are put in a similar enviroment to your birth family