XYY SYNDROME AS AN EXPLENATION OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR Flashcards
XYY
What is it + characteristics (A01)
XYY is when there is an “Extra Y chromosome” in MEN ONLY
1:1000 have it
(genetic disorder)
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS)
• taller than avg by 7cm (6’3”)
• low muscle tone
• muscle weakness
• widley spaced eyes
• severe cystic acne
• breast development
• loose chest hairs and baf beard growth
• curved pinky finger ( clinodactyly)
• female pube pattern
• Osteyoperosis
Non-physical characteristics
• mildly impared IQ
• may develop: ADHD, Autism, Impulsivity and defiant behaviour
• maths problems and learning dificultys
XYY
EVIDENCE +
HOWITT 2009
• Howitt 2009
• they found xy1 member more common in the offender population than in the general population therefore linking the syndrome to aggression and crime
• therefore supports the explanation with xyy leads to violent criminal behaviour due to more being found in the prison population when the general population indicating that a large number of them commit crimes, thus supportong the explenation
XYY
HOW GOOD RESEARCH
HOWITT 2009
CORRELATIONAL
HOWITT 2009
• the research is mainly correlational such as howitt 2009
• correlational research does not prove that something causes something else it only proves that there is a link slash relationship between the two covariables
• therefore meaning that correlational research only suggest that there is a relationship between XYY syndrome and criminal behavior
• not that xyy syndrome causes violent criminal behaviour which is the explanation
• therefore meaning that this is poor evidence to support the explanation
XYY
EVIDENCE -
WITKIN ET AL 1976
Witkin et al 1976
• 12 xyy criminals in 4,000 Danish prisoners
• out of these 12, zero were convicted of violent crimes
• they were more likely to reoffend(41.7% vs 9.3%)
• they showed low levels of intelligence and low-levels of attachment
• the more likely to commit crime due to social factors rather than biological factors
• for example being recognized a lot more due to physical characteristics but an inability to defend themselves properly so they just attack
• another social Factor could be labeling and self-fulfilling prophecy as internalizing the label of xyy being criminal leads to more x y men becoming criminals anyway as they internalize that label
• therefore this study found that 0% of xyy in this one prison were convicted of violent crimes and they were more likely to commit crimes due to social factors rather than biological factors including the inability to defend themselves after being accused being a criminal and then becoming a criminal after being accused of being criminal via internalizing the label, under therefore it opposes the statement that xyy syndrome causes violent criminal behavior
XYY
HOW GOOD RESEARCH +
WITKIN ET AL 1976
• Witkin et al 1976
• this is good research due to the fact that uses real cases of xyy prisoners in Danish prisons and therefore the findings that they were more likely to commit crime due to social factors rather than biological factors is likely to occur in real life due to it occurring in real life before
• therefore giving the study high ecological validity making it good research to oppose the explanation xyy syndrome causes violent criminal behavior
XYY Comparison to Amygdala +/-
Howitt 2009 eco Hess 1928 animal
Xyy = SFP Witkin et al 1976
Raine et al 1997
• XYY is better than problems/ differences in the Amygdala as an explenation of criminal behaviour due to evidence supporting them
• Howitt (2009) was a review of real life offenders in the prison population that found XYY syndrome was more common in the offender population than the general population, therefore a field study using real life evidence from people giving it high ecological validity and therefore good research to support XYY
• whereas The amygdala has Hess1928 with Electricaly stimulating the amygdala in cats so they attack fake cats and stop when the electricity stops, this is an animal study meaning the findings cant be generalised to humans due to biological differences in the amygdala
• meaning XYY is better than Problems with the amygdala as it has Better studys to support it as an explenation of violent criminal behaviour
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• Problems/ differences with the Amygdala is a better explenation of Criminal behaviour than XYY syndrome as XYY has been found to only cause criminal behaviour not through genes but due to Self forfilling proficy and labeling of people claiming they are criminals and XYY men internalising these lables and becoming criminals
• as found by witkin et al 1976 XYY were more likley to do crime for social reasons (such as labling and SFP) not biological reasons.
• Therefore due to XYY not actualy causing criminal behaviour (SFP does) , and the amygdala being liked to Aggression through studys such as Raine et al 1997 which found high glucose metabolism rates in the right amygdala (known for negative emotions suchas aggression) of NGRI MURDERERS compared to non- murderers showing a link between the amygdala and aggression, problems/differences with the amygdala is a better explenation of violent criminal behaviour than XYY syndrome
XYY CONCLUSION AND APPLICTION
Xyy was found by witkin et al 1967 among others to be more linked with labeling and self-fulfilling prophecy ( internalizing the criminal label of an actualy becoming a criminal) than the genetic disorder actually increasing aggression and crime therefore xyy syndrome does not cause violent criminal behavior
An application of this is that it may be used as a scapegoat for criminals trying to get out of harsher scentences
• this simply reinforces the steryotype that XYY syndrome causes criminal behaviour making actual XYY men internalize the lable and then become criminals
this creates a loop resulting in more crime and more xyy syndrome being misrepresented as convicts
