Unit 2 Biological theories AC2.1

Question 1

what are the sections included under genteic theories

Answer 1

genetics
XYY syndrome

Question 2

what were the two studies for inheritability of criminal genes and who studied them

Answer 2

Twin studies - Christiansen
Adoption studies - Mednick

Question 3

summeries the study of Twin studies

Answer 3

historial data of MZ (identical twins) and DZ (non identical) and concordance rate in criminal behaviour

Question 4

what were the findings of the Twin studies

Answer 4

MZ concordance rate was 35% and DZ was 13%
3 times more likely to be criminal than DZ

Question 5

why was the adoption studies done

Answer 5

to remove the shared environment for the twin that lived with biological parents which could be a possible impacting factor in twin studies

Question 6

summarise the study of adoption studies

Answer 6

studies sets of adopted twin and difference between adopted father and biological father and the twins

Question 7

what was the finding of the adoption studies

Answer 7

adopted father has a criminal record = 11% of twins did same
biological and adopted father did not have criminal record = 10% of twins went on to get one
biological father had criminal record = 21% twins did the same

Question 8

what is the XYY syndrome summerised

Answer 8

men that have an additional Y chromosome making them more ‘manly’ and higher levels of testosterone

Question 9

give some symptoms of XYY syndrome

Answer 9

taller than 6ft
high levels of testosterone
high levels of acne
more aggressive
easily angered

Question 10

who studied the XYY syndrome

Answer 10

Jacobs et al

Question 11

summerise the study done by Jacobs et al of the XYY syndrome

Answer 11

wanted to see if having XYY syndrome will make males more aggressive and therefore more likely to become involved in criminal behaviour
studies 198 male prisoners in scotland criminal mental institute

Question 12

what are the negatives of the twin studies and adoption studies

Answer 12

very reductionist - too narrow
studies showed correlation but there isnt enough evidence
some determinism as it is genetic but 79% didnt go onto committ crime - other factors
possibility for wide scope of crime but its not clear

Question 12

what was the findings of the XYY syndrome studies

Answer 12

Men with XYY had similar backgrounds and crimes to men with XY - doesn’t prove link to aggression
Found a correlation between XYY and property crime
XYY fit stereotype of violent offender - tall, well built
Syndrome rare 1 in 1000 - cannot explain all crime

Question 12

Who studied the idea that people look criminal

Answer 12

Lombroso

Question 13

What was lombrosos main theory

Answer 13

Criminals are a different species
They are “evolutionary throwbacks” - they evolved differently
atavists physical charactistics

Question 14

Give some physical features that Lombroso names as easily identifiable for criminals

Answer 14

Unusual sized ears
Large eye sockets
Beak nose
Glassy state

Question 15

What are other characteristics mentioned by Lombroso for his theory

Answer 15

Use criminal slang
Grotesque expression of thoughts
Tattoos
Unemployed

Question 16

What might Lombroso potentially be studying other than criminals

Answer 16

Measuring low socio-economic status: labouring jobs can lead to a change in features due to labour

Question 17

Did Lombroso have a control group for his study?

Answer 17

No

Question 18

What was the procedure for lombrosos theory

Answer 18

Examined facial features and cranial features of 383 dead criminals and 3839 living - all Italian

Question 19

What were the findings of Lombrosos procedure for his theory

Answer 19

40% of criminals and looked at could be identified by atavists characteristics
60% could not

Question 20

what are the four theories under physiological theories for biological theories

Answer 20

Lombrosos born criminals
Sheldons somatotyping theory
Brain abnormality and trauma
neurochemical theories

Question 21

what are the three fundamental body types Sheldon deduced from analysing 4000 naked men

Answer 21

Endomorphes
mesomorphes
ectomorphes

Question 22

what are endomorphs and what characteristics do they have according to sheldon

Answer 22

high body fat - sociable and outgoing, hedonistic and egocentric

Question 23

what are mesomorphs and what characteristics do they have

Answer 23

muscular body - sensation seeking, risk taking and energetic

Question 24

what are ectomorphs and what characteristics do they have

Answer 24

thin body low body fat - self conscious, emotionally restrained

Question 25

what were the results of sheldons theory

Answer 25

control group of college students - mean score of 3.8
criminal group - means score of 4.6

Question 26

what link does sheldon make to mesomorphs

Answer 26

they have higher levels of testosterone which goes on to focus on agressive crime

Question 27

what is the main idea of Brain abnormality and trauma

Answer 27

that part of the brain can influence behaviour specifically the pre-frontal cortex

Question 28

what was the study of Raine et al (1994) and what was the findings

Answer 28

PET scans to study living brains of impulsive killers
found - damage to pre-frontal cortex in all impulsive killers

Question 29

what historical person can we use as evidence that personality may reside in the pre-frontal cortex

Answer 29

Phineas Gage

Question 30

what is the main idea for Neurochemical theories

Answer 30

chemical balance is inherticed and genetics play huge roll
there are 2 main neurochemicals: testosterone and serotonine

Question 31

what is serotonine

Answer 31

neurochemical that regulates mood

Question 32

what do high and low levels of serotonine mean

Answer 32

low = persons mood becoming unstable
high= decrease pain, decrease apetite, has a calming effect on body and nervous system

Question 33

why might high levels of serotonine cause people to commit crime

Answer 33

so high on drug of serotonine you over estimate your abilities - rational disappears

Question 34

why might low levels of serotonine cause people to commit crime

Answer 34

so low that caring disappears and depression and anxiety form

Question 35

what can serotonine be impacted by

Answer 35

diet

Question 36

list some evaluation points for Neurochemical theories

Answer 36

not all crimes are aggressive
doesnt rule out female crime
no control group for Dabbs et al saliva study for higher levels of testosterone in male prisoners