topic 6 - biological explanations of criminality

Question 1

how did biological explanations of criminality influence early theories?

Answer 1

it caused people to believe that criminals had certain body types and facial characteristics that indicated whether they were a criminal and what type of crime they would be likely to commit.

Question 2

what do the biological explanations of criminality not take into account?

Answer 2

do not take learning theories or experiences into account.

Question 3

what does the biological explanations of criminality focus on?

Answer 3

brain, nervous system, genes and hormones

Question 4

who conducted the study about twins for biologically explaining criminality?

Answer 4

Karl Christiansen (1977)

Question 5

what did the twin study find?

Answer 5

Christiansen found that 35% of monozygotic male twins recorded in Denmark were both criminals compared to 13% of dizygotic male twins. For female twins, 21% of monozygotic twins and 8% of dizygotic twins were criminals. This may be because identical twins are more likely to have a similar upbringing which could explain why in comparison they have a higher criminal percentage.

Question 6

what was another study conducted when using biological explanations of criminality?

Answer 6

adoption studies

Question 7

who conducted the adoption studies for biologically explaining criminality?

Answer 7

Hutchings and Mednick (1975)

Question 8

what did the adoption studies find?

Answer 8

Hutchings and Mednick found that 21% of adopted children who went on to the criminal path had a biological father who was convicted of a crime. This was compared to 10% of children whose biological father was not convicted of a criminal offence but the adoptive father had a criminal record.

Question 9

what was the background to the adoption studies?

Answer 9

Biological and adoptive parents are compared to the child in terms of their criminal records affecting their potential chance to become criminals as well. Assuming that the children have been adopted at a young age, we can assume that any similarity between the biological parent and child is inherited.

Question 10

what is the personality theory?

Answer 10

it explains that some personalities are associated with being a criminal while others do not. It suggests that a criminal personality trait is caused by internal, biological factors.

Question 11

what is a personality?

Answer 11

it is a set of characteristics and qualities that determine our individual character

Question 12

what does the term ‘temperament’ mean?

Answer 12

it is the nature someone is born with which affects their behaviour

Question 13

who proposed a personality theory?

Answer 13

Hans Eysenck (1964)

Question 14

what are the different personality traits and how many are there?

Answer 14

4: extraversion, introversion, neuroticism and psychoticism

Question 15

what is the personality trait extraversion/ introversion?

Answer 15

it refers to two extreme ends of one dimension of personality. Extraversion is being outgoing and sociable whereas introversion is being reserved and quiet.

Question 16

what is the personality trait neuroticism?

Answer 16

this refers to the level of nervous disposition of someone. There are two types: stable and unstable. Unstable neuroticism means they tend to be highly emotional an d over-react while stable neuroticism means they are calm and don’t over-react in situations.

Question 17

what is the personality trait psychoticism?

Answer 17

this is a personality traits that is cold, lack empathy, anti-social and can be aggressive.

Question 18

how was a persons personality measured?

Answer 18

through the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire.

Question 19

what is the biological bias of personality? what did the different personalities mean?

Answer 19

People with high extraversion (E) scores on the questionnaire are believed to have a nervous system with low arousal level so they seek external stimulation to raise their biological arousal level. they do this from being outgoing and attention-seeking.

people with low extraversion (E) scores on the questionnaire are believed to have a nervous system characterised by high arousal so they avoid thrill and excitement in order to lower their biological arousal level.

unstable neurotics have a high neuroticism score (N) and are believed to have a nervous system that responds very quickly under stressful conditions so they tend to over-react quickly.

people with low N scores, stable neurotics are believed to have an unreactive nervous system meaning they are calm during stressful situations.

having a high P score means that a person is cold, lacks compassion and can be antisocial.

Question 20

what is unstable neuroticism?

Answer 20

a personality trait associated with a person being over-reactive in stressful situations, over-emotional and axious

Question 21

what is stable neuroticism?

Answer 21

a personality trait associated with a person being unreactive in stressful situations and emotionally unaffected.

Question 22

what is psychoticism?

Answer 22

a personality trait associated with a person being cold, antisocial, lacks empathy and can be aggressive.

Question 23

what is extraversion?

Answer 23

behaviour that is outgoing, sociable and sensation seeking.

Question 24

what is introversion?

Answer 24

behaviour that is reserved, calm and quiet

Question 25

what is the criminal personality?

Answer 25

high PEN scores are uncommon and have been associated with criminality.

Question 26

what PEN scores do most people have?

Answer 26

they have moderate pen scores so they are moderately on psychoticism, extraversion and neuroticism.

Question 27

what is the process of socialisation?

Answer 27

it is how social conditions effect our behaviour and society. So as we grow up, we are punished for anti-social behaviour and we learn to associate misbehaving with the anxiety of being punished.

Question 28

why are high PEN scores associated with criminality?

Answer 28

this is because people with high PEN scores have a biological nervous system that is more difficult to socialise because they do not associate their antisocial behaviour with the anxiety of being punished.

These personalities are quick to react due to their unstable neuroticism, sensation seeking due to their extraversion and lack empathy for others due to their psychoticism. Anti social behaviour is exciting and they do not take other peoples feelings under consideration.

Question 29

what are strengths of Eysenck’s theory?

Answer 29

1. there is evidence that people with these personality traits are associated with criminal behaviour. A study conducted by Farrington et al (1982) reviewed lots of studies that compared offenders and non-offenders. They found that there was a relationship between high P and N scores and criminal behaviour.
2. it is a holistic theory as it combines biological (genetics and the nervous system), psychological (traits) and social (upbringing) factors into one theory. It is therefore more holistic on it’s approach to explaining criminal behaviour

Question 30

what are weaknesses of Eysenck’s theory?

Answer 30

1. It assumes that personality traits are fixed and stable. Traits that have a biological bias in our nervous system are viewed as unchanging throughout our life, however, it is possible that we change our behaviour according to the situation we are in. Criminality can therefore be considered to be more about environmental conditions than personality traits. Social conditions such as poverty may encourage criminal behaviour than the type of the nervous system we possess.
2. It is unreliable as most of the evidence in the theory is based off self-report questionnaires. This evidence has a possibility to be flawed because people tend to answer questions about themselves in a way that best reflects desirable characteristics rather than undesirable ones. Also, the evidence comes from offenders only represents offenders that have been caught rather than the successful ones.