Biological Theories of Crime (WJEC)
- Created by: Steph Riddle
- Created on: 16-06-13 17:19
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- Biological Theories of Crime
- Lombroso (1876): Believed all criminals were another species: The Retarded Species
- Argued that they have distinctive facial features
- Sloping forehead
- Protruding Chin
- Large ears
- Hollowed Eye Ridges
- Believed that all anti-social behaviour was a result of their actions being suited for more primative times & were unable to adapt to normal society life
- However the theory is heavily criticized as other factors lead to similar characteristics
- Sample was biased
- Argued that they have distinctive facial features
- William Sheldon: Believed 3 body types corresponded to 3 personalities
- Ectomorph: Thin & Fragile, Intellectual & Restrained, Prone to Schizophrenia
- Endomorph: Fat & Soft, Sociable & Relaxed, Prone to Depression
- Mesomorph: Muscular & Hard, Aggressive. Prone to Delinquency
- Using a correlational study Sheldon found that many were Mesomorphs and less likely to be Ectomorphs
- Heavily critised as it shows no link between mesomorphs and crime
- Glueck & Glueck (1956): Found in a sample of Delinquents 60% were Mesomorphs (Provides Support)
- XYY Syndrome: Found in the 60's. A genetic explanation for abnormalities in behaviour
- The presence of an extra Y chromosome leads to aggression but there is not a connection to crime
- Jacobs et al (1965): There are 15 sufferers per 1000 in prison & 1 per 1000 in the population
- Price et al (1963): 28% of men in a scottish state insitute for the mentally insane had the XYY syndrome
- The presence of an extra Y chromosome leads to aggression but there is not a connection to crime
- Twin Studies: Identical Twins (MZ)
- Believed that consistency in results between twins will show a genetic explanation for crime
- Identical twins are always the same sex, share the same interests, including criminal ones, and the same living environment
- But it is hard to interpret results as twins look alike and may generate similar social responses
- Identical twins are always the same sex, share the same interests, including criminal ones, and the same living environment
- Believed that consistency in results between twins will show a genetic explanation for crime
- Adoptive Studies
- Used to see if genetics of an adoptive family determine the extent of criminal behaviour
- Families often choose children that are similar to the original family
- Crowe (1974): In a sample of 52 adopted children of women in prison it was found that 7 have at least one criminal convictions themselves
- Mendrick, Gaberelli & Hutchings (1987): Found that boys with criminal parents with a conviction are more likely to have a conviction themselves
- Lombroso (1876): Believed all criminals were another species: The Retarded Species
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