ac2.1 unit 2

Name 2 physiological theories

Lombroso’s theory (phrenology)

Sheldon’s theory (somatotypes)

Lombroso’s phrenology theory

‘born criminal’, stated that criminals were physically different from non- criminals, spent many years measuring and recording details of the heads and faces of thousands of prisoners. After this research, concluded criminals have distinctive physical features, enormous jaws, high cheekbones, handle shaped ears, especially long arms. He claimed different types of criminals had different facial features. Stated criminals are species of primitive human. Pre-social, unable to control their impulses and reduced sensitivity to pain.

Sheldon’s somatotype theory

Saw criminals as physically different than non- criminals, certain body types are linked to criminal behaviour.

Endomorphs= rounded, soft, fat, lacking muscles, personality- sociable, relaxed, comfortable, and outgoing.

Ectomorphs= thin and fragile, lacking both fat and muscles, flat chested, thin face, personality- self conscious, fragile, thoughtful.

Mesomorphs= muscular and hard bodied, very little fat, strong limbs, narrow waist, personality- sensation seeking, assertive and domineering, enjoys physical activity.

Sheldon examined photographs, showing front, side and back views of 4000 scantily clad men, found criminals prone to committing violent crimes were mesomorphic. Compared these pictures to pictures of college students with no criminal convictions. Found the delinquents had a higher average mésomorphy rating than students.

Name 2 genetic theories

Jacob’s xyy theory

Mednick adoption studies

Xyy thoery

Jacobs theory of criminality believes that some crime might be due to a chromosomal abnormality, may result in the presence of extra chromosomes, condition known as Xyy which results in the extra Y chromosome. Men found with extra y chromosome are found to be more aggressive and more inclined to be violent than men who only have 1 Y chromosome Studies estimate there are 1 in 1000 men with Xyy in society. 15 in 1000 within prisoners. Labelled as super male syndrome. The typical characteristics of people with Xyy is very tall, well built and of low intelligence.

Mednick Adoption studies

Looks at nature a nurture. Studies compared the behaviour of offspring to their adopted parents and biological parents. It looks at the impact of nurture on children who were raised by adoptive parents. If child is more like their biological parents than their adoptive parents, suggests genetic for criminal behaviour. If the child is more like their adoptive, suggests that the environment is the reason for criminal behaviour. Hutchings and Mednick studied 14,000 adopted children and found that a high proportion of boys with criminal convictions had biological parents with criminal convictions too, study found no relationship between number or criminal convictions of adoptive parents and adopted children.