Forensic Psychology

Question 1

Who proposed the atavistic theory to offending

Answer 1

Cesare Lombroso

Question 2

Outline the atavistic theory to offending

Answer 2

Criminals have different characteristics to non criminals
Including sloping brows and prominent jaws.
Criminals can be classified in different subtypes of characteristics. Murders have curly hair

Question 3

Why does the atavistic theory state criminals have different characteristics to non criminals

Answer 3

Lombroso stated this was due to a more primitive stage in evolution

Question 4

Who proposed the somatotype theory of offending

Answer 4

William Sheldon

Question 5

Name the three somatotypes and their corresponding characteristics

Answer 5

Endomorphs are fat and soft they are social
Ectomorphs are thin and fragile they have low self esteem
Mesomorphs are criminals. They are aggressive, callous and uncaring of others feelings

Question 6

Outline a study which investigated the somatotype theory to offending

Answer 6

Sheldon compared male delinquents and college students using a rating scale out of 7. Rating given according to body type and average taken.
Sheldon found that delinquents were significantly more mesomorphic with an average 5.4 rating.

Question 7

What conclusions can be drawn from Sheldon’s comparative study of delinquents and non-delinquents

Answer 7

Theory that “mesomorphic individuals are more prone to aggressive and criminal behaviour” is supported.

Question 8

What are the two physiological theories of offending

Answer 8

Atavistic and somatotype theory

Question 9

Criticisms of Lombroso’s theory

Answer 9

• didn’t compare criminals to non criminals
• sample consisted of individuals with psychological disorders
• Goring’s study comparing criminals and non criminals found no significant difference in the physical features

Question 10

Strengths of Lombroso’s theory

Answer 10

Moved explanation of criminality into scientific realm and away from wickedness

Question 11

Criticisms of Sheldon’s theory

Answer 11

• Cortes and Gatti argued his classification of the somatotypes was unreliable
• Sutherland: sheldon failed to use the legal criteria for defining delinquents
  When study repeated using legal definition, association between delinquency and mesomorphic body type was no longer present

Question 12

Other explanations for a link between mesomorphic body type and delinquency

Answer 12

• mesomorphs learn from early the only way to get what they want is to behave in an aggressive manner
• muscular body types attractive to gang members as they are perceived to be more successful at crime

Question 13

Strength of Sheldons theory

Answer 13

More scientific explanation

Question 14

Why are twin studies used in explaining criminal behaviour

Answer 14

If one monozygotic twin displays aggressive and criminal behaviour as well as the other twin, then that behaviour must be genetic/innate

Question 15

Outline Lange findings

Answer 15

Monozygotic twins showed a much higher degree of concordance that dizygotic twins for criminal behaviour

Question 16

Outline a study which investigated twin concordance rates for criminal behaviour

Answer 16

Christiansen studies 3500 twin pairs from Danish islands
Found in males: 35% concordance for mz and 13% for dz
Found in females: 21% concordance for mz and 8% for dz

Question 17

Evaluation of twin studies

Answer 17

• concordance rates in studies are low indicating environmental influences
• concordance could be due to mz twins sharing the same environment and therefore being treated the same, whereas dz twins tend not to

Question 18

Why are adoption studies used in explaining criminal behaviour

Answer 18

Allows comparison of criminal with both biological and adoptive parents
Child more similar to biological parents, genetic basis of criminality suggested

Question 19

Outline Crowe’s findings for adoption study

Answer 19

50 percent of children in a sample of adopted children whose biological mothers had criminal records, had criminal records themselves by age 18

Question 20

Outline findings by Hutchings and Mednick

Answer 20

If both biological and adoptive fathers had criminal records, 36.2 percent of sons also became criminals

• only biological father 21.4 percent
• only adoptive father 11.5 percent
• neither 10.5 percent

Question 21

What conclusions were made from Hutchings and mednicks study

Answer 21

Genetic factors clearly play a role in influencing criminal behaviour but environmental influences cannot be neglected

Question 22

Evaluation of adoption studies

Answer 22

• adopted children placed in similar environments to that of their biological parents
• children adopted at late ages. Criminal behaviour could be due to early life experiences

Question 23

What is the id

Answer 23

Id is governed by the pleasure principle and seeks instant gratification of biological urges

Question 24

What happens if is is prevented from fulfilling its urges

Answer 24

Aggressive tendencies emerge

Question 25

According to Freud, what re humans

Answer 25

Humans are antisocial beings driven by their own needs and urges even if these conflict with other people in society

Question 26

What is the ego

Answer 26

Ego is governed by the reality principle and seeks to consciously fulfil the demands of the id, in relation to the constraints and rules imposed by society

Question 27

What is the superego

Answer 27

Superego is governed by the morality principle and compromises of two systems

Question 28

What are the two systems that make up the superego

Answer 28

• Conscience made up of moral rules

- Ego-ideal which is what the individual aspires to be