Genetic theories Unit 2 Criminology Flashcards
What is the xxy theory?
It’s theory that suggests that crime may be related to the chromosomes/genes that someone has
What are the different chromosomes?
Male chromosomes xy and female chromosomes are xx. The Y chromosomes is what makes a person male
What are the xxy chromosomes?
Xxy involves the presence of an extra Y chromosome. sometimes males who have this are called super males.
What was Jacob at el theory?
He suggested that men with an extra Y chromosomes are more aggressive and violent then normal men with XY
What did Jacob at el say about prisons?
He suggested that XXY men are over populating the prisons with 15 sufferers per 1,000 in prison.
What is the Twin studies?
It says that there is a connection between criminal behaviour and heritable traits.
What are the different twins?
Identical twins are monozygotic meaning they are from one fertilised egg and share 100% DNA. Dizygotic twins are from two separate eggs and share 50% DNA.
What does the twin studies suggest?
Says that genetics or nature plays a role in Criminal behaviour with the monozygotic twins more likelytoc ommit crime than the dizygotic twins.
What is adoption studies?
It is wether criminal behaviour is due to there biological parents or their adoptive parents
Biological and adoptive parents.
If it’s nature it means it’s the adoptive parents and if it’s nature it means the biological parents and the environment.
What did Hutchings and Mednick say?
They found a link with the high proportion of boys with criminal convictions and there biological parents. Meaning that there is a link between aggression and genetics.
What is family studies?
It looks at the similarities in behaviour between members of the same family.
