XYY syndrome and link to aggression

Question 1

what is XYY syndrome

Answer 1

when a human male has an extra Y chromosome

Question 2

prevalence rate

Answer 2

1/1000

random occurance at conception

Question 3

percentage of males with XYY that go undetected

Answer 3

75%

Question 4

examples of physical features of XYY syndrome

Answer 4

tall
cystic acne during adolescence
widely placed eyes

Question 5

mental features of XYY

Answer 5

IQ is 10-15 points lower than siblings on average
increased risk for learning disabilities and behavioural problems (e.g. dyslexia, ADHD)

Question 6

Jacobs et al. (1965)

Answer 6

7/196 males (3.5%) in a scottish state mental hospital in Edinburgh were XYY

Question 7

why is Jacobs et al. good supporting research

Answer 7

studies of inmates in similar institutions in England, Austrailia, Denmark, USA found a similar percentage incidence

Question 8

Casey et al. (1966)

Answer 8

research done at two maximum security hospitals in great Britain

12/50 males tested there had XYY

Question 9

application of genetic testing

Answer 9

can be used to determine whether people have XYY

to see if they have a genetic predisposition to violence and aggression

preventative measures can be put in place - e.g. education on why violent crime isn’t acceptable or therapy to help reduce urges

Question 10

application to educating society

Answer 10

not sure

Question 11

Theilgaard et al. (1984) - opposing evidence

Answer 11

30000 men
12 of them had XYY and 16 had XXY

XYY males had slightly lower levels of intelligence than average and were found to be more aggressive toward other people

more similarities than differences found between XXY and XYY males - so no solid evidence of a criminal gene found

personality was administered by a social worker who did not know the aim of the study

Question 12

Theory could result in labelling

Answer 12

could lead to negative preconceptions of people with XYY - self fulfilling prophecy or prejudice

Question 13

deterministic

Answer 13

suggests XYY is the reason for commiting crimes in those with XYY syndrome, whereas other factors may have influenced

it ignores thaqt people have free will to choose how they behave

Question 14

Physical featrures cannot be used to classify XYY

Answer 14

anyone can have these physical symptoms, so it cannot be known for definite that someone with these features has XYY