biological theories

Question 1

PHYSIOLOGICAL - SHELDON
sheldon (1940) saw

Answer 1

• certain somatotypes are linked to criminal behaviour

Question 2

PHYSIOLOGICAL - SHELDON
ectomorph - description

Answer 2

• thin, lacking fat and muscle, thin face, flat-chested, and high forehead

Question 3

PHYSIOLOGICAL - SHELDON
ectomorph - psychological traits

Answer 3

• self conscious, emotionally restrained

Question 4

PHYSIOLOGICAL - SHELDON
mesomorphs - description

Answer 4

• muscular, strong limbs, broad shoulders

Question 5

PHYSIOLOGICAL - SHELDON
mesomorph - psychological traits

Answer 5

• sensation seeking, risk taking, domineering

Question 6

PHYSIOLOGICAL - SHELDON
endomorphs - description

Answer 6

• round body shape, lack of muscle, wide hips

Question 7

PHYSIOLOGICAL - SHELDON
endomorph - psychological traits

Answer 7

• sociable and outgoing

Question 8

PHYSIOLOGICAL - SHELDON
made links between

Answer 8

• mesomorphs and criminality
• physical stature is beneficial to crime
• more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviours

Question 9

GENETIC - TWIN
focus on

Answer 9

• identical twins (monozygotic) who are 100% genetically identical

Question 10

GENETIC - TWIN
if one twin is criminal,

Answer 10

the other ought to be

Question 11

GENETIC - TWIN
identical twins are…

Answer 11

• compared to non-identical twins (dizygotic)
• if criminality is genetic, you would expect more identical twins to be both criminal than non-identical

Question 12

GENETIC - TWIN
evidence - christiansen’s study

Answer 12

-3,586 twins in denmark
- 52% concordance rate between mz twins
- among dz twins, only 22% chance

Question 13

GENETIC - ADOPTION STUDIES
these studies…

Answer 13

• compare adopted children to both their biological parents and adopted parents

Question 14

GENETIC - ADOPTION STUDIES
the thinking is…

Answer 14

• an adopted child (especially at birth) shares the same environment as their adoptive parents, but the same genes as their biological parents

Question 15

GENETIC - ADOPTION STUDIES
if we find…

Answer 15

• adoptee’s behaviour in regard to criminality is more similar to their birth parents’ behaviour, it supports a genetic explanation

Question 16

GENETIC - ADOPTION STUDIES
evidence - mednick et al

Answer 16

• examined data on over 14,000 adopted sons in denmark from 1924 - 1947
• sons more likely to have a criminal record if a birth parent did (concordance rate of 24%)
• smaller proportion (14.7%) had a criminal record if their adoptive parent had one

Question 17

GENETIC - JACOB’S XYY
chromosomes…

Answer 17

• Are made up of DNA and protein and they are found in the nucleus of our cells
• They carry all the genetic information that we inherit

Question 18

GENETIC - JACOB’S XYY
normally…

Answer 18

• we have 46 chromosomes (arranged in 23 pairs)
• XY - male
• XX - female

Question 19

GENETIC - JACOB’S XYY
one abnormality is..

Answer 19

• extra Y chromosome
• known as the XYY syndrome but has been labelled as the ‘super male syndrome’

Question 20

GENETIC - JACOB’S XYY
men with XYY syndrome…

Answer 20

• tend to be tall and well built

Question 21

GENETIC - JACOB’S XYY
jacob et al (1965) claimed

Answer 21

• they are more aggressive and potentially violent than other males

Question 22

GENETIC - JACOB’S XYY
evidence -

Answer 22

• studies on imprisoned criminals (in secure psychiatric hospitals)
• higher-than-average proportion of the inmates were found to have XYY syndrome

Question 23

GENETIC - JACOB’S XYY
evidence 2 - many had…

Answer 23

• histories of aggression and violent assault
• Price and Whatmore (1967) found XYY males to be immature and unstable