Biology explanations of offending behaviour

biological explanations of offending behaviour

1. Activistic form

2. Genetic/neural

lombrossos theory of Activistic form

criminals are genetic throwbacks, a primitive subspecies who are biologically different to non-criminal. This lack of evolutionary development means they have a savage and untamed nature. Consequently, they find it impossible to adjust to the demands of civilised society and inevitably turns to crime therefore, criminal behaviour is innate/natural

Activistic characteristics

(criminals) strong, prominent jaw, high cheekbones, dark skin, asymmetrical face, extra toes nipples or fingers, use of slang, tattoos and unemployment

(sexual deviants) glinting eyes, swollen fleshy lips and projecting ears

(fraudsters) thin lips

(murder) blood shot eyes, curly hair, long ears

Evaluate the Activistic form

o   Supporting evidence- lombrosso found 40% of criminal acts could be accounted for by atavistic characteristics. For example, Lombrosso proposed characteristics such as strong, prominent jaw, fleshy lips and high cheekbones were common features of criminals which was later supported in his study adding credibility to his theory. However, lombrossos study had no control group meaning no comparison between non-criminals could be made so we cannot be sure they don’t display similar characteristics so a cause and effect relationship between atavistic form and criminals can be estavblish. Adds limited credibility to theory

o   Contradicting evidence to lombrossos research- Goring(1913) found no difference between physical features of criminals and non criminals. Means no evidence to support a link between atavistic form and criminal activity. Therefore, this evidence discredits the theory.

o   Opposing explanations- neural, genetic, PEN, differential association

o   Socially sensitive- characteristics based on African features e.g. dark skin, fleshy lips, curly hair. Form of discrimination could lead to potential eugenics and wrongly places blame on individuals due to their colour.

Genetic explanation of offending behaviour

Certain genetic combinations predispose people to criminal behaviour

Genes associated with offending behaviour and their role

• MAOA- controls dopamine and serotonin-linked to aggressive behaviour

• CDH13- linked to attention deficit disorder and substance abuse

Neural explanation of genetic offending behaviour

People are predisposed to criminal behaviour because if abnormalities in the brain structure/functioning

what part of the brain is thought to be related with criminal behaviour and outline a study which supports it

prefrontal cortex

(Processes emotions, empathy and morality)

Raine found people with APD have less activity in the prefrontal cortex and an 11% reduction in the volume of grey matter in the prefrontal cortex

What study supports the genetic explanation of offending behaviour?

Raine- meta-analysis found that concordance rates between both twins to be offenders as 51% in MZ twins and 21% in DZ twins

Suggests more shared genes=higher concordance for both twins being criminals

However, doesn’t consider environmental factors, MZ twins look same so are treated similar

outline the role of mirror neurons

play a role in empathy as they are activated when witnessing someone else experience pain, stress and other emotions

mirror nephrons role in offending behaviour

mirror neurons in people with APD do not function consistently and are switched on/off rather than staying permanently on

what stops stopped the role of mirror neurons in offending behaviour?

Keysers (2011)- criminals with APD only demonstrated empathy controlled by mirror neurons when witnessing someone in pain (rather than emotions)

evaluate the genetic explanation to offending behaviour

o   Supporting evidence- Raine found 51% concordance in MZ and 21% DZ

o   Issues with the use of twin studies- DZ share 100% and MZ share 50%. MZ look and dress the same so are more likely treated the same. Environmental factor can’t be accounted for- lack internal valiidty

o   Deterministic- suggest criminals behaviour is down to genes or abnormalities in the brain structure and functioning. This raises issues of social sensitivity for the criminal justice system because it removes the blame from offenders and suggests they should not be punished for their crimes as their behaviour is suggested to be down to biological factors. This questions the criminal justice system and how criminals should be handled

o   Further supporting evidence for genes- Mednick et al (1984) found when neither the parents or adopted parents are convicts, the percentage of adoptees that did was 13.5% and rose to 20% when either of the biological parents had convictions and to 24.5% whe both adoptive and biological parents had convictions. This suggests genetic inheritance plays a role in offending behaviour. But environmental factors is also important in criminal behaviour supporting the interaction of nature and nurture in development of this behaviour. However, many adoptees are encouraged to keep contact with biological parents so they will exert an environmental influence. Therefore, we cannot be sure results are down to genes

evaluate the neural explanation for offending behaviour

o   Supporting evidence- Raine found people with APD have less activity in prefrontal cortex which is thought to be involved in the functioning of empathy and morality and found an 11% reduction in the volume of grey matter in the prefrontal cortex in people with APD. Furthermore, his research is very objective because he used fMRIs to scan brains and his validity of his research is considered high because he used a control and experimental group. This means a direct comparison could be made and we can establish any change in the activity of the prefrontal cortex is linked to the APD. However, we must be careful about drawing cause and effect conclusions from such research because Raine did not scan participants prior to having APD so we cannot be sure the lower activity in the prefrontal cortex has caused APD or the APD has caused the production of activity in the prefrontal cortex. Therefore only adds limited credibility.

o   Deterministic- suggest criminals behaviour is down to genes or abnormalities in the brain structure and functioning. This raises issues of social sensitivity for the criminal justice system because it removes the blame from offenders and suggests they should not be punished for their crimes as their behaviour is suggested to be down to biological factors. This questions the criminal justice system and how criminals should be handled