[PHSYIOLOGICAL THEORIES] Biological Theories Of Criminality Flashcards
[CESARE LOMBROSSO]
Give 3 atavistic features
Low sloping forehead
Large chins and lips
Long arms
[CESARE LOMBROSSO]
Explain Cesare Lombroso’s theory
Criminals are ‘separate species’
Physical shape of the head and face determined the ‘‘born criminal’’
Said criminality was heritable
Criminals could be identified by their physical characteristics which indicated their biological inferiority
You can tell what kind of crime someone will commit based off their looks (E.G: Sex offenders - thick lips & protruding ears
[CESARE LOMBROSSO]
Explain 3 strengths
+ Adds to nature/nurture debate (Lombroso says they were born)
+ Research shows - less attractive people are more likely to be found guilty and receive longer sentences
+ First theory that tried looking at inheritable traits
[CESARE LOMBROSSO]
Explain 3 weaknesses
- Ignores criminal explanation for females
- Can lead to labelling and then self-fulling prophecy (if they look like a criminal they’ll become one)
- deterministic = facial features determines if someone’s an offender
[WILLIAM SHELDON]
Explain 3 strengths
+ Scale of body types was useful for healthcare
+ Used extensive research to match body types to characteristics (e.g: mesomorphs are more delinquent)
+ Can link testosterone to aggression and body type
[WILLIAM SHELDON]
Explain 3 weaknesses
- People’s body’s fluctuate
- Not everyone who is a mesomorph will be a criminal
- Only three body types explained
[BRAIN ABNORMALITIES]
Explain 3 strengths
+ Scientific evidence - it can be observed through brain scans
+ Allows us to predict behaviour
+ may lead to therapy into the future
[BRAIN ABNORMALITIES]
Explain 3 weaknesses
- reductionist = cant ignore social factors
- Not all with brain damage or low brain activity become aggressive, murderer or psychopath
- don’t know what brain activity is like during the behaviour: cant have cause & effect 100% (cant say it’s the brain 100%)
[NEUROCHEMICALS & BIOCHEMICALS]
Explain 3 strengths
+
[NEUROCHEMICALS & BIOCHEMICALS]
Explain 3 weaknesses
- Everyone’s neurochemical levels are different making it difficult to find balance for you
[CESARE LOMBROSSO]
Explain the research of Lombroso that supports his theory
Examined facial and cranial features of 383 dead criminals and 3839 living ones
40% of criminal acts could be accounted for by the atavistic characteristics
[CESARE LOMBROSSO]
Explain a methodological issue with his research
Looked at more dead criminals than alive ones - Makes it subjective
[CESARE LOMBROSSO]
Explain Lombroso’s view on prisons
He believed prisons were criminal universities - Criminals were much worse when they came out as they were going in
Recidivism rate - people reoffend when they come out of prison
[CESARE LOMBROSSO]
Explain Wu and Zhang’s evidence for Lombroso’s theory
Used a machine to detect features of the human face that are associated with criminality - ID photos of 1,856 Chinese men (half had previously been convicted)
[WILLIAM SHELDON]
Explain William Sheldon’s Theory
Believed there was a correlation between body type and overall behaviour patterns
Had a book ‘Atlas of men’ linked body shape to delinquents
[WILLIAM SHELDON]
What are the three body types (Somatotypes)
Ectomorph
Endomorph
Mesomorph
((PURE SOMATOTYPES ARE RARE AND MOST PEOPLE REPRESENT A BLENDING OF ALL DIFFERENT TYPES))
[WILLIAM SHELDON]
Explain the characteristics of the three body types
(Skinny/average build) Ectomorph = Introverted and restrained
(Fatter build) Endomorph = Sociable and relaxed
(Strong/fit build) Mesomorph = Aggressive and adventurous [Prone to committing aggressive and violence acts]
[WILLIAM SHELDON]
Explain Mesomorph’s link to criminality
Prone to committing aggressive and violence acts
They pose the greatest threat of becoming delinquents and later criminals
[WILLIAM SHELDON]
Explain the supporting evidence for William Sheldon’s theory
Found that criminal groups were mesomorphic and his study had a control group to compare to
[BRAIN ABNORMALITIES]
What evidence do we have for this theory?
Raine et al.
&
Phineas gage
[BRAIN ABNORMALITIES]
Give the 5 sections of the brain
Pre-frontal cortex
Cerebellum
Temporal Lobe
Occipital lobe
Parietal Lobe
[BRAIN ABNORMALITIES]
Explain the function of the Pre-frontal Cortex
Decision making - controls impulse
If not working well, people make poor decisions, lack of control and impulse
[BRAIN ABNORMALITIES]
Explain the Temporal Lobe
Perception and recognition
If damaged can lead to aggression and increased or decreased sexual behaviour
[BRAIN ABNORMALITIES]
Explain the function of the Occipital Lobe
Vision
If working too much, people can become over sensitive and irritable to stimuli
[BRAIN ABNORMALITIES]
Explain the function of the Parietal Lobe
Perception and attention
Links to ADHD + Schizophrenia
[BRAIN ABNORMALITIES]
Explain the function of the Cerebellum
Balance
[BRAIN ABNORMALITIES]
Explain the function of the Amygdala
Processing emotions and reward - emotion processing centre
Allows you to feel empathy
When there is an imbalance = lack of remorse, lack of empathy, fearless, aggression
[BRAIN ABNORMALITIES]
Explain the function of the corpus collosum
Allows communication between left and right hemispheres
[BRAIN ABNORMALITIES]
Explain Phineas Gage
Large iron rod destroyed much of his brain’s frontal lobe
Before his injury: Trustworthy and dependable
After his injury: bad mannered, liar, impulsive and unreliable
Later in life he mellowed - maybe due to the other parts of his brain overcompensating for lost areas
[BRAIN ABNORMALITIES]
Explain Raine Et Al.
used P.E.T scans to see if criminals have different brain structures
Reduction in the amygdala = criminal
[BRAIN ABNORMALITIES]
Explain Raine’s findings through P.E.T scans
Damage was found in pre-frontal cortex in criminals
He refers to it as ‘brakes of a car’ - pre-frontal cortex puts the brakes on human behaviour that slows us down so we don’t act on compulsion
Violent offenders :
had less activity in their front and parietal lobes
More activity in occipital lobe
less activity in corpus collosum
Faulty hippocampus
[NEUROCHEMICALS & BIOCHEMICALS]
Explain the function of Neurochemicals
Chemical messages that are passed through neurons
Responsible for the activation of behavioural patterns and tendencies in specific areas of the brain
Carry messages throughout the body
[NEUROCHEMICALS & BIOCHEMICALS]
Explain the function of hormones
Controlled by the endocrine system
travel through the blood stream
[NEUROCHEMICALS & BIOCHEMICALS]
Explain how the brain is effected
Effected by diet
[NEUROCHEMICALS & BIOCHEMICALS]
What foods can help to raise serotonin & dopamine
Fatty fish
Dark chocolate
Turmeric
Organic Green Tea
Fermented Foods like kimchi
[NEUROCHEMICALS & BIOCHEMICALS]
Explain how diet can help neurochemical transmission & Adrian Raine’s research
Omega 3 - impacts healthy cell growth and neural connections
Experiment where he gave 100 children a fruity dribk with omega 3 for 6 months alongside a control group
Behaviour of children improved in the Omega 3 group showing a reduction in aggression - continued 6 months after experiement
Regular dose of Omega 3 in childhood can reduce chance of criminality
[NEUROCHEMICALS & BIOCHEMICALS]
Explain how blood sugar levels can cause criminality
Low blood sugar levels can cause aggressive reactions
Research shows a link between low blood sugar levels and alcohol abuse as drinking large quantities of alcohol can induce hypoglycaemia and increase aggression
[NEUROCHEMICALS & BIOCHEMICALS]
Explain how biochemical substances can cause criminality
Their effects on brain chemistry and mental processes can cause criminal behaviour
E.g: Sex hormones, blood sugar levels and substance abuse
[NEUROCHEMICALS & BIOCHEMICALS]
Explain the function of serotonin
Regulates signals between neurons and is believed to control mood. Can also prevent behaviours.
[NEUROCHEMICALS & BIOCHEMICALS]
Explain dopamine’s link to criminal behaviour
Linked with aggression, addiction and substance abuse
What are all the Physiological Theories?
Lombroso - Separate Species
William Sheldon - Body Types (Somatypes)
Brain Abnormality
Neurochemical & Biochemical
