strengths and weakness Flashcards
what are the strengths of Jacobs Xyy
Strength👍
• Jacob found a significant number of men in prison had xyy
• Adler indicated that it is possible that aggression and violent behaviour is at least partly down to genetics
what are the weakness of Jacobs Xyy
Weakness 👎
• Studies have found that genetic abnormalities are widespread throughout the general population and therefore can’t explain aggression
• Focuses too heavily on genetics and ignores environmental influences
• Geogard compared xyy and XY men he found aggression was not associated with xyy men
what are the strengths of Genetic inheritance
Strength👍
• Twin studies are natural experiments as the biological relationship between twins is a natural occurring variable
• Biological and adopted children have different environments which makes it easier to separate biological and environmental influences
• Studies have concluded there is a correlation between adopted children and their biological parents
what are the weakness of Genetic inheritance
Weakness 👎
• Early twin studies such as Lang worth not controlled very well and lacked validity as to whether the twins were MZ or DZ which was based on appearance not DNA
• Small samples in twin studies may not be representative of all twins/ criminals
• if twins are brought up in the same environment criminology could just as easily be nurture
not nature
what are the strengths of Lombroso
Strength 👍
• Lomboso was the first person to give criminology scientific credibility
• Goring found low intelligence in criminals suggesting a genetic basis
• Challenge the idea that criminals are evil or choose to be criminal
what are the weakness of Lombroso
Weakness 👎
• Lack of a control group no comparisons are made with non criminals
• Lack of accuracy because people could have disfigurements because of violence
• Not all people with those features became criminal and not all criminals have those features
what are the strengths of Sheldon
Strength 👍
• Putwain and sammons confirmed there is a small Association between body build and criminality
• Sheldon used a good size sample of 200 and had a control condition of non offenders to compare results to
• Glueck and Glueck found that 60% of delinquents were mesomorphs
what are weakness of Sheldon
Weakness 👎
• Could not really explain why the other body types didn’t commit crime
• Does not take into account that people’s body type changes throughout their lives
• Judicial System my treat mesomorphs more because of death physical bill increasing the likelihood they will be labelled as a criminal
what are the strengths of personality theory
Strength
• Eysenck predicted that traumatised scours would be high in Neuroticism and they did
• If criminal behavuer is detectibule in childhood you can intervein and prevent them form being criminals
• Eysenck theory forms the basis of modern personality testing. De young suggest there is a link between P E and N to the release of dopermean ( for E) testosterone (for P).
what are the weakness of personality theory
Weakness
• Lack of reliability. People may respond differently on different days and times.
• The person might give an answer they think the question-ur wants to heir.
• Fails to consider how personalities change over time.
what are the strengths of the Psychodynamic theories
Strength
• Just because Freuds theories are different dose not mean there Rong.
• Psychodynamic theories have contributed to research about crime and deviance in particular the focus on childhood expresses and the impact of them of future behaviour
• The is ego and superego seem to match parts of the brain, that have been established by research as having similar functions. Limbic system- id, pre frontal cortex – ego.
what are the weakness of the Psychodynamic theories
Weakness
• No longer accredited by psychologists due to the difficulty of testing. You can’t test the unconcise mind.
• Theses theories are very unscientific and lank objective interpretation. It is very subjective and based on the opinions of multiple people who all got different concisions.
• The idea of the over-harsh superego and wanted to be punished dose not hold up to realty as criminals go to great lengths not to be court.
what are the strengths of the Learning theory
Strength 👍
• This theory shifted the emphasis away from biology theory’s
• Farrington found that family is a large influence on offending. Crime can be seen as intergenerational.
• The bobo doll experiment showed the model did have an effect on whether the child was violent towards the doll.
what are the weakness of the Learning theory
Weakness 👎
• This theory dose not account for individual differences some people are much more easily lead than others
• This theory is impossible to test. How do you count up someone associations and influences accurately?
• The bobo doll experiment is a lab study- it artificial setting in which a child watches a model- it dose not reflect real life.
what are the strengths of the Cognitive theories
Strength
• Hs always used highly control methods of testing. This has involved the use of lab experiments to get reliable, objective data.
• One of the best approaches of explaining crime today.
