Forensic (theories of crime)

Question 1

Intro - Explanations

Answer 1

Why people commit crime has a long and infamous history, one major problem is defining criminal behaviours as there is antisocial violent and white collar. Crime is also relative what might be a crime today may not be another day.

Question 2

Early Biological studies

Answer 2

Lombroso was an early biological theory that link facial features to criminal behaviour, he suggested that they were not fully evolved known as atavism (low foreheads, protruding jaws) Sheldon also linked body features to crimes stating that mesompoths were likely to be criminals. No control group no way of proving a cause and effect so its not scientific and its racist and bigoted.

Question 3

Biological; Family studies

Answer 3

Lots of evidence that criminal behaviour runs in families. Osborne and west found that 13% of sons with non criminal dads had a record but 20% with criminal dads. Adoption studies are also used to see if its genetic, medick found 1400 adoptees found the following results:Neither : 13.5Biological: 20Adoptive: 14.7 Both: 24.5Suggesting that there is some clear genetic determination. It was only done on males gender bias

Question 4

Biological: Genes (1)

Answer 4

If there is a genetic basis then genes should be identified. Retz er al found link of 5-HTTLPR and violence. Reif et al found link of WOS1 and aggression. Banner studies Dutch and found that they had mutation for monamine oxidase type A which should lead to a reduction is aggression but found the opposite. This is the opposite to what was found in animal studies that lack of serration is linked to increased aggression.

Question 5

Biological: Genes (2)

Answer 5

Diet has also been implicated as high levels of pheylaline effect serotione found men on unbalanced diet were linked to aggression. Genes cannot provide full explanation its not 100% concordance. Ethical issues if it is a gene should they be held accountable for actions? Should we punish behaviour what is beyond their control?

Question 6

Psychological: Personality

Answer 6

It has been proposed that there is “criminal personality” Eysenek argued that individuals who score high on extroversion and neuroticism don’t conditions well so they don’t learn societies norms and values. Still no cause and effect it could be the personality that leads to the criminal behaviour or behaviour that leads to personality.

Question 7

SFP

Answer 7

Attubutions are made about people if its negative it may well lead to negative behaviour as they will live up to this master status. Jahoda Monday- mild Wednesday- Aggressive Shouldn’t use in schools

Question 8

Freud

Answer 8

Weak super ego by unloving parent. Bowlby found 44 juvenile thieves 14 had separation. Retrospective

Question 9

SLT

Answer 9

Imitation and Identification. reinforcement