Biological Factors Flashcards
What are Lambroso’s three classes of criminal?
Born criminals, insane (no sane person could commit a crime) and criminoids (no special features but has criminogenic needs)
Brain development has been strongly linked to?
Environmental factors
What are three factors effecting brain development?
In-utero experiences (lead, alcohol), birth complications and early trauma
What are the two areas of the brain relevant to criminality?
The frontal lobe and the amygdala
What does the frontal lobe control? (3)
Organising thought, consequential thinking and planning
What does the amygdala control?
Emotional regulation
What have studies on twins shown about crime?
That there is a genetic influence on crime
What is the level of correlation between fathers and sons for criminality?
High
What did the early positivist theories suggest about crime?
That there is a distinct biological or genetic basis to crime
Why is the genetic effect difficult to determine? (2)
It either acts as a predisposition to act in a manner likely to lead to criminal activity or it occurs through the intervening process
What would most criminologists agree about when it comes to biological/genetic factors and environmental factors when it comes to crime?
That there is not one explanation and it is likely a mixture of both
What physiological indices have been found to be correlated with criminal behaviour? (6)
Toxins, alcohol, drugs, neurotransmitters, hormones and autonomic nervous system activity (flight or fight)
Why are twin studies relevant?
Because twins have the same environment but different genes
Which has more evidence in general, genetic or biological factors?
Genetic
