chap 3 Early Biological Theories

fingerprints, footprints, blood, hair

DNA evidence includes

an individual is more likely to be a criminal

presence of certain physical traits show that

study of individual offender; methods and stats; typological methods to classify observations

scientific positivism by cesare lombroso

“Evolutionary throwbacks” who had not evolved to the same as others; identified by examining physical stigmata

lombroso’s Theory of Atavism / Atavists, influenced by Charles Darwin

3 body types and personality traits links to crime

william sheldon’s somatotype theory

fat, soft, round, extroverts

endomorphs

thin, wiry, easily worried, introverts

ectomorphs

muscular, sociable, assertive, action oriented

mesomorphs

mesomorphic

study of 200 delinquents triggered by an environment found that the majority of criminals were

supermale (XYY)

male with extra Y chromosome which made more aggressive, abnormality, overrepresented in prisons. evidence shown XYY more likely to commit crime but not conclusive; rare %

modern biosocial approach

behavioral genetics, neurological studies, biosocial theory, evolutionary theory; goal is to understand why ppl commit crimes

indirect (family, twin, adoption studies) and direct (molecular genetics)

does crime = heredity? 2 approaches include

consistently predicts children’s criminal behavior

parent’s criminal history

identical to fraternal twins

twin studies compare

people may treat IT twin more similarly, and IT more likely to share friends (including delinquents)

criticisms of twin studies:

concordance rates (specific trait of disorder)

IT twins have higher ____ ___ than FT twins

compare cj record of adopted children to biological and adopted parents 

adoption studies

biased placements, biological mothers provide ¨environment” during first month of life

criticisms of adoption studies

analyze brain structure and activity

MRA and PET scans

cognition, attention, impulsivity

prefrontal cortex controls executive function:

differences in the frontal lobe

____ __ __ ___ ___ exists between criminals and noncriminals

neurotransmitters (serotonin)

allow cells to communicate

low levels of serotonin

linked with impulsive and aggressive behavior

harms

physical trauma, disease, exposure to toxins

perinatal risks linked with criminality

smoking, alcohol, delivery complications, low birth-weight children, unstable families

highly toxic to young children

lead found to be

behavioral and delinquent problems

paint and gasoline linked to

violent and impulsive behavior (not well researched)

hypoglycemia (glucose deficiency) linked with

antisocial; aggressive behavior

high testosterone levels leads to __ to __

early in life

chronic offending starts

neurological deficits and ineffective parenting

chronic offending caused by

ppl are impulsive, insensitive, physical, risk taking, shortsighted, nonverbal: bc of ineffective parenting

low self control as a biosocial concept

young women

early onset of puberty linked to crim behavior for

girls in coed schools, no all girls schools

research found true for

attract the attention of older crime prone males

conclusion of young women committing crimes during puberty