Biological Explanations of crime- XYY Syndrome
- 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
- Some have XYY instead
- XY is male
- 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
- Often above average height around 6ft 3
- 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
- Violent offences are most likely
- Impulsive/ lacking control
- Lack of empathy
- More aggresive
- Physical
- 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
- Therapy
- 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
- There must be a correlation between XYY and criminality (aggressive?violent)
- XYY is more common in offenders
- XYY men are rare in the general population
- 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
- XYY were aged 13
- There's a significant difference in the first conviction ages of XXY and XY males
- 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
- There's a link between XYY and criminality
- 15 in 1000 male prisoners have XYY
- 1 in 1000 males 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
- Suggesting there is no link
- There were only 12 cases of XYY in 4,000 Danish prisoners
- Howitt 2009
- 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
- As there is a strong correlation between prisoners and XYY, criminal behaviour could be prevented
- 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
- XYY could be used as a justification for criminality
- Implication of labelling
- Males with XYY could be discriminated and stereotyped
- This could lead to more aggressive views
- Males with XYY could be discriminated and stereotyped
- Educate society
- 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
- The only defining feature is height, this could lead to bullying
- Labelling could be a 3rd factor
- The label of XYY could lead to acting in a certain way
- Encouraging aggressive behaviour
- The label of XYY could lead to acting in a certain way
- 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
- XYY can cause a lack of understanding thus leading to criminal behaviour
- Women aren't accounted for
- Women commit the same crimes as these XYY sufferers
- Not all occurrences of crime are assessed or explained
- Women commit the same crimes as these XYY sufferers
- Reductiionist view
- Social factors are ignored, it is purely biological
- There are different reasons for committing crime like upbringing
- Social factors are ignored, it is purely biological
- Low credibility
- How Good is the Research
- Correlation is used
- Cause and effect can't be established
- Is XYY the symptom or cause?
- Cause and effect can't be established
- Strange diagnosis
- XYY is diagnosed using height
- This is not scientiic
- XYY is diagnosed using height
- It is hard to separate genes and environment
- We don't know which causes the behaviours
- Harder to resolve any issues
- We don't know which causes the behaviours
- Narrow samples
- Only the prison population
- Not representative of non convicted criminals or those without XYY
- Only the prison population
- Correlation is used
- 23rd chromosome pair determines gender
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