Unit 2 AC2.1 Flashcards
What are physiological theories?
They are theories which claim the physical features of criminals differ from those of non-criminals.
What are the 4 biological theories?
- Physiological
- Genetic
- Brain injuries and disorders
- Biochemical
What is Lombroso’s theory?
The first physiological theory of criminality by Lombroso in 1876. Argued that criminals were physically different from non-criminals. Recorded and measured details of the heads and faces of prisoners. He concluded that criminals could be identified by their physical features.
How Lombroso measure evidence for his theory?
He examined 4000 offenders to identify physical markers indicative of the atavistic form. Examples of things he measured: height, weight, arm span and feet and so on. In a study of 383 dead Italian criminals and 3839 living ones he found 40% of them had atavistic characteristics.
What criminals look like to Lombroso?
High cheekbones, large eye sockets with acute eyesight, prominent eyebrow arches, handle shaped ears and an enormous jaw. He also claimed that different types of criminals had different facial features - thieves having flatter noses compared to murders beak-like noses.
What is Sheldon’s Somatotypes theory?
William Sheldon believed that certain body types or somatotypes are linked to criminal behaviour.
What is a Mesomorph?
A person with a muscular frame. Sheldon argues that mesomorphs are the somatotype most likely to engage in crime. They are more likely to be attracted by the risk taking it involves and their imposing physique and assertiveness can be important assets in crime.
What are genetic theories?
Genetic theorists use genetics to explain criminal behaviour. If crime is inborn then it runs in the family, passed down from parent to child. Cambridge study in delinquent development found that out of 397 families, half of all criminal convictions came in just 23 families.
What are twin studies?
Monozygotic (MZ) twins share exactly the same genes - they both developed from the same developed from the same fertilised egg. Therefore if one twin is criminal the other is too.
Evidence to support twin studies?
Christiansen’s study of 3,586 twin pairs in Denmark. He found that there was a 52% concordance rate between MZ twins (where one identical twin had a conviction, there was a 52% chance the other twin would also). Among non-identical twins there was only a 22% chance.
What are adoption studies?
They compare adopted children to their biological birth parents and adopted parents. The thinking behind this is that an adopted child shares the same genes as their biological parents. If we find the adoptee’s behaviour is more similar to the birth parents this would support a genetic explanation.
Evidence to support Adoption studies
Mednick et al examined on over 14,000 adopted sons in Denmark from 1924 to 1947. They found that sons were more likely to have a criminal record if their birth parents also had a record (20%). In contrast, found that 14.7% had a criminal record if their adoptive parent had. Mednick et al concluded that adoptees with criminal records are more likely to have biological parents with criminal records than adoptees whose birth parents did not.
What is Jacob’s XYY study?
Abnormality of sex chromosomes. An extra Y chromosome. Labelled ‘Super Male Syndrome’. Men with XYY tend to be very tall and well built, and of low intelligence. Jacob et al claim that XYY men are more aggressive and potentially more violent than other males.
Evidence to support Jacob’s XYY study?
Jacobs study found that 15 in 1000 prisoners had the extra chromosome in comparison to 1 in 1,000 outside of prison. Price and Whatmore found XYY males to be immature and unstable, with a strong tendency to commit seemingly motiveless property crimes. John Wayne Gacy, American serial killer who tortured and raped at least 33 men, was believed to have been XYY.
How do brain diseases link to criminality?
Example: In the 20s epidemics of ‘sleeping sickness’ among children were linked to destructiveness, impulsiveness, arson and abnormal sexual behaviour. Other diseases include senile dementia, Huntington’s disease and brain tumours have also been linked to forms of deviant anti-social behaviour. Abnormal brainwave activity is measured by an electroencephalograph (EEG). Some studies show abnormal EEG readings among ‘clearly insane’ murderers and criminals.
