Forensics- Genetic explanation BIOLOGICAL

Question 1

Strength, Combo Whopper

GENETIC EVIDENCE

Answer 1

There is support for the genetic explanation.
Lange investigated 13 MZ and 17 DZ twins where one of the twins in each pair had served time in prison. It was found that 10 of the MZ twins but only 2 of the DZ twins had a co-twin who was also in prison.
This research concluded that genetic factors must play a predominant part in offending behaviour.
However, the sample size is incredibly small and there is the argument that twins are an unusual sample in themselves and may not represent the rest of the population. This questions the representativeness of the findings.

Question 2

Strength, hamburger

SUPPORT FOR THE DS MODEL OF CRIME

Answer 2

There is support for the diathesis-stress model of crime.
Mednick et al (1984) studied over 13000 Danish adoptees and found that when neither the biological nor adoptive parents had criminal convictions, the percentage of adoptees that did was 13.5%. This figure was 20% when either biological parent had convictions and 24.5% when both adoptive and biological parents had convictions.
This data suggests that although genetic inheritance plays an important role in offending, environmental influence cannot be disregarded.

Question 3

Limitation, Double Whopper

PROBLEMS WITH ADOPTION STUDIES

Answer 3

There are problems with adoption studies.
Many children experience late adoption.
This means that much of the child’s infancy and childhood may have been spent with their biological parents.
Therefore the results that are found in adoption studies may not account for the environmental impact that biological parents have had reducing the validity.

Question 4

Limitation, hamburger

BIOLOGICALLY REDUCTIONIST

Answer 4

The genetic explanation of offending is biologically reductionist.
It focuses on genes such as MAOA and CDH13 in order to explain criminal behaviour.
However criminality is complex and it may be inappropriate and overly simplistic to only focus on biology in offending behaviour.

Question 5

Limitation, Double Whopper

BIOLOGICALLY DETERMINISTIC

Answer 5

The genetic explanation is biologically deterministic.
The MAOA gene and CDH13 gene have both been implicated in violent crime.
This suggests that criminal behaviour is beyond the control of the individual.
But this is problematic because our legal system is based on criminals having personal and moral responsibility which raises ethical questions about how violent criminals should be treated.