Genetic + Neural evaluation

Question 1

G.E

Support for diathesis stress model:

Answer 1

Mednick et al 1984

Conducted study on over 13000 adoptees

Found when neither biological or adoptive parents had convictions. 13.5% convictions

Either of bio parents convicted = 20%

Both sets = 24.5%

Suggests both genetic + environmental factors important.

Question 2

Weaknesses of adoption + twin studies:

Answer 2

Twin studies assume equal environment.
parents of MZ twins tend to treat twins more similarly
–> impacts behaviour

.: higher concordance rates result of being treated the same, rather than genetics.

Adoption: separation of genetic + environmental influences problematic due to late adoptions.

Adoptees regularly maintain contact w bio parents –> confounding variable

Tricky to assess relative impact of biology

Only possible with very early adoptions

Question 3

G.E
case study

Answer 3

Stephen Mobley case study

Question 4

N.E:
Brain evidence

Answer 4

Research support for link between crime + frontal lobe.

Kandel + Freed (1989) reviewed evidence of frontal lobe damage + antisocial behaviour.
–> issues with impulsive behaviour,emotional stability.

Supports idea brain damage may be causal factor in offending behaviour.

Question 5

N.E

Intervening variables

Answer 5

other factors could contribute to APD –> ultimately yo offending

Farrington et al (2006):

Studied males who scored high on psychopathy.

Raised by convicted parents, phsycially neglected –> could have caused neural differences (due to trauma)

Question 6

Issues + debates

Answer 6

Biologically reductionist.

Criminality too complex to be reduced ti genetic/neural level

Lots of things run in families (poverty, emotional instability)

Difficult to disentangle all possible influences.

CR in twin studies never 100%
.: environmental factiors may be responsible/ partly responsible for criminal behaviour