Crim Unit 2: Biological Theories

0.0(0)
studied byStudied by 0 people
learnLearn
examPractice Test
spaced repetitionSpaced Repetition
heart puzzleMatch
flashcardsFlashcards
Card Sorting

1/9

encourage image

There's no tags or description

Looks like no tags are added yet.

Study Analytics
Name
Mastery
Learn
Test
Matching
Spaced

No study sessions yet.

10 Terms

1
New cards

Lombroso’s theory: Born criminals

  • Criminals are physically different from non-criminals

  • Criminals have enormous jaws, long arms, large eye sockets etc

  • Saw criminals as Atavistic to the primitive stage of evolution

  • Criminals are pre-social, unable to control impulses and have a reduced sensitivity to pain.

  • Criminals are like ‘savages’ and in modern society are abnormal.

2
New cards

Sheldon’s somatotypes theory

  • Somatotypes are linked to criminal behaviour

  • Endomorphs: rounded, soft and tend to be fat, lack muscles, sociable, relaxed and outgoing.

  • Ectomorphs: thin and fragile, lack fat and muscles, self-conscious, introverted, emotionally restrained.

  • Mesomorphs: muscular and hard bodied, little fat and strong limbs, sensation-seeking, enjoy physical activity, assertive

  • Mesomorphs are more likely to commit crime because of the risk and their body type is an important assist for crime.

3
New cards

Twin studies

  • If one family member has ‘criminal genes’, it’s likely that their blood relatives will have them too.

  • Monozygotic twins share exactly the same gene, so if one is criminal the other should be too.

  • 3586 twin pairs in Denmark

  • Found that if one MZ twin had a conviction there was a 52% chance the other also had one.

  • Among DZ twins there was only a 22% chance.

4
New cards

Adoption studies

  • An adopted child shares the same environment as their adoptive parents, but the same genes as their bio parents.

  • Mednick et al examined date of over 14,000 adopted sons in Denmark.

  • Found sons were more likely to have a criminal records if a birth parents also had one.

5
New cards

Jacob’s XYY study

  • Abnormality of the sex chromosomes is a possible genetic cause of criminality.

  • Chromosomes contain genetic info we inherit from our parents.

  • Some men get an extra Y chromosome, this is know was XYY syndrome or Super male syndrome

  • Men with this are more aggressive and violent

  • Higher average of inmates were found to have XYY syndrome and had a history of aggression and violent assault.

6
New cards

Brain injuries

  • Rare cases of brain injuries being the cause of criminality

  • Phineas Gage: personality changed after a major brain injury

  • Prisoners are more likely than non-prisoners to have suffered brain injuries.

7
New cards

Diseases

  • Brain diseases have been linked to criminal or anti-social behaviour.

  • Senile dementia, Huntington’s disease and brain tumours have been linked to various forms of anti-social behaviour

  • Abnormal brainwave activity: studies show abnormal EEG readings among ‘clearly insane’ murders and psychopathic criminals.

8
New cards

Biochemical: Sex hormones

  • Males: Over/under production of hormones may lead to emotional disturbances, leading to criminal behaviour.

  • Testosterone linked with murder and rape and testosterone levels peak from puberty to early 20s, which correlates with high crime rates.

  • Females: PMT, post- natal depression have been accepted as partial defences for women charged with crimes ranging from shop lifting to infanticide.

9
New cards

Biochemical: Blood sugar levels

  • Hypoglycaemia can trigger aggressive reactions.

  • Drinking large quantities of alcohol can induce low-blood sugar and increase aggression.

10
New cards

Biochemical: Substance abuse

  • Involves the intake of drugs and other substances

  • Studies show is the USA, 80% of family violence involves alcohol.

  • Cocaine and crack are closely linked with violence.