Biological Explanations of crime- XYY Syndrome

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  • Created by: Rachie S
  • Created on: 03-01-17 20:34
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  • XYY Syndrome
    • 23rd chromosome pair determines gender
      • XY is male
        • Some have XYY instead
          • These males have 47 chromosomes instead of 46
          • This occurs in 1 of 1000 male births
          • It is a random occurrence at conception
          • 15 of 1000 prisoners have XYY
    • Traits
      • Physical
        • Often above average height around 6ft 3
          • 7cm taller than average
        • Severe acne
        • Learning difficulties
          • Walking
          • Holding objects
        • Delayed physical development
        • Reduced intelligence
      • Behavioural
        • Low tolerance (to frustration)
        • Speech issues
        • Lack of empathy
        • Impulsive- can't control emotions
        • Explosive temper
        • Hyperactivity
        • Defiance/ anti-social behaviour
      • Criminals with XYY
        • More aggresive
          • Violent offences are most likely
            • Impulsive/ lacking control
        • Impulsive/ lacking control
        • Lack of empathy
    • Treatment: this is based on symptoms and support needed
      • Therapy
        • Speech
        • Occupational
        • Behavioural
      • There is no cure
      • Symptoms can be radically reduced with early intervention
      • Assistants for learning disabilities can be useful
    • Evidence
      • Howitt 2009
        • XYY men are rare in the general population
          • There must be a correlation between XYY and criminality (aggressive?violent)
            • XYY is more common in offenders
        • XYY is more common in offenders
      • Price & Whatmore 1967
        • There's a significant difference in the first conviction ages of XXY and XY males
          • XYY were aged 13
            • XYY crimes recorded were against property not people
            • XYY causes higher levels of aggression at a younger age
          • XY were 18
            • XYY causes higher levels of aggression at a younger age
      • Jacob et al  1965
        • 1 in 1000 males have XYY
          • There's a link between XYY and criminality
            • 15 in 1000 male prisoners have XYY
            • However, 75% of XYY cases are undetected
        • 15 in 1000 male prisoners have XYY
      • Witkin 1976
        • There were only 12 cases of XYY in 4,000 Danish prisoners
          • Suggesting there is no link
            • However,, none of the 12 were violent criminals
    • Applications and Implications
      • Educate society
        • As there is a strong correlation between prisoners and XYY, criminal behaviour could be prevented
          • Those susceptible to criminality can deal with their aggression through early intervention
      • Ethical implicatons
        • XYY could be used as a justification for criminality
          • A scapegoat for criminals could be created
          • Those with XYY could freely commit crimes with lesser consequence
      • Implication of labelling
        • Males with XYY could be discriminated and stereotyped
          • This could lead to more aggressive views
    • Comparison and Credibility
      • Low credibility
        • The only defining feature is height, this could lead to bullying
          • Aggressive behaviour is therefore encouraged
        • There is conflicting research
          • We can question whether XYY is the cause
      • Labelling could be a 3rd factor
        • The label of XYY could lead to acting in a certain way
          • Encouraging aggressive behaviour
      • Aggression is the consequence
        • XYY can cause a lack of understanding thus leading to criminal behaviour
          • XYY doesn't directly cause violence, the lack of understanding does
      • Women aren't accounted for
        • Women commit the same crimes as these XYY sufferers
          • Not all occurrences of crime are assessed or explained
      • Reductiionist view
        • Social factors are ignored, it is purely biological
          • There are different reasons for committing crime like upbringing
    • How Good is  the Research
      • Correlation is used
        • Cause and effect can't be established
          • Is XYY the symptom or cause?
      • Strange diagnosis
        • XYY is diagnosed using height
          • This is not scientiic
      • It is hard to separate genes and environment
        • We don't know which causes the behaviours
          • Harder to resolve any issues
      • Narrow samples
        • Only the prison population
          • Not representative of non convicted criminals or those without XYY

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