Origin of Criminal Behaviour

Question 1

cesare lombroso

Answer 1

believed that criminals were more genetically similar to their primitive ancestors than non criminals
believed that criminals possessed a unique set of physical characteristics

Question 2

homo delinquens

Answer 2

other species of human who were born criminal

Question 3

the born criminal

Answer 3

criminals looked inherently different than non criminals - similar to primitie ancestors

Question 4

william sheldon

Answer 4

developed a body typing classifcation system for identifying criminals called somatotyping

Question 5

somatotypes

Answer 5

ectomorphs
mesomorphs
endomorphs

Question 6

ectomorph

Answer 6

fragile and thin

Question 7

mesomorph

Answer 7

power, athletic, and muscular

Question 8

endomorps

Answer 8

soft and fat

Question 9

what did william sheldon find

Answer 9

strong correlation between personality and somatotype - mesomorphs

Question 10

what is the real correlation between prisoners and a strong body type

Answer 10

prison gyms and free time - explained by environmental factors instead

Question 11

genes related to crime

Answer 11

ALDH22
MAOA

Question 12

ALDH22

Answer 12

metabolozing alcohol gene - predispose to substance abuse

Question 13

MAOA

Answer 13

chemical structure of neurontransmitter - seratonin, phenylethylamine,

Question 14

trends for adoption and twin studies

Answer 14

 Twin studies on criminality show higher concordance rates for criminal behavior in MZ twins over DZ twins. – concludes for a genetic basis

 Adoption studies on criminality show that adoptees resemble biological parents more in antisocial behavior-

 Overall, there appears to be a modest but consistent genetic component to antisocial behavior –

Question 15

3 ways of measuring neurotransmitter activity

Answer 15

• central neurochemical measures
• peripheral measures
• parhmacochallange technique

Question 16

central neurochemical measure

Answer 16

check cerebral or extracellular fluid for metabolinte

Question 17

peripheral measure of neurotransmitter

Answer 17

blood, urine, or saliva for metabolite

Question 18

pharmacochallenge

Answer 18

measuring postsyanptic release of neurotransmitter

Question 19

4 ways seratonin can impact human aggresion

Answer 19

• aggresive behaviour found to be inversely related to CSF levels of 5-HIAA (metabolite of seratonin gotten from cerebral spinal fluid)
• low levels of 5-HIAA in children = disruptive behavioural disorders
• 5-HT functioning = reactive impulsive subtype of aggression
• aggresive behaviour inversely related to MAOA levels in men and women

Question 20

norepinephrine and human aggresion

Answer 20

• positive relationship between NE activity + aggression proposed
• elevated levels of MPHG and aggression
• high levels of impulsivity
• fight or flight response
• might be used as a stimulant in drug overdose

Question 21

dopamine and criminal behaviour

Answer 21

low levels of homovanilic acid found to discriminate violent recidivists and non recidivists
high levels - psychotic symptoms
comes from many drugs

Question 22

traditional measures of ANS arousal include

Answer 22

low levels of resting heart rate
low skin conductance
slower EEG waves

Question 23

EEG waves and underarousal

Answer 23

increased aggression and delta/theta waves

Question 24

skin conduction findings

Answer 24

antisocial individuals sweat less so lower skin conduction than non criminals

Question 25

heart rate and antisocial behaviour

Answer 25

lower resting heart rate found in antisocial children

Question 26

two theoretical models to explain underarousal findings

Answer 26

1) fearlessness theory
2) stimulation seeking theory