AC4.1 - Biological theories and policy development

Question 1

What is capital punishment?

Answer 1

The death penalty. When a criminal is executed by the state

Question 2

What theories contributed to the death penalty?

Answer 2

Biological theories such as atavism, somatotypes and genetic theories

Question 3

Why do some countries have the death penalty?

Answer 3

Because it is believed that some offenders are biologically predisposed to offend and can never be rehabilitated, so they need to be removed from society

Question 4

Strengths of the death penalty

Answer 4

• Ends the lives of dangerous offenders, reducing the risk to the public
• Many people are in favour of it e.g. a 2023 poll revealed 55% of the UK public were in favour of bringing back the death penalty
• Some argue it is fair: a life for a life
• Could act as a deterrent

Question 5

Weaknesses of the death penalty

Answer 5

• People who are wrongfully convicted can get it
• Unethical
• Little evidence it acts as a deterrent

Question 6

What theory influenced the policy of healthy meals and nutritional supplements in prison?

Answer 6

Neurochemicals. Vikkunen et al (1987) found that violent offenders tend to have lower serotonin levels so foods that boost serotonin like salmon should be served in prison. Schoenthaler (1982) found that a reduced sugar diet reduced anti-social behaviour in prison by 48%

Question 7

Strengths of diet and neurochemicals policy

Answer 7

• Backed up by research

Question 8

Weaknesses of diet and neurochemicals policy

Answer 8

• Prison meals cost government money
• Difficult to say whether diet or other factors are responsible for improved behaviour in prison

Question 9

What is chemical castration and what theory influenced the policy?

Answer 9

Taking medication to reduce the sex drive, influenced by neurochemical theories

Question 10

Strengths of chemical castration

Answer 10

• Trial on sex offenders at HMP Whatton had positive results
• Could protect the public from violent and sexual offenders
• Ethical if consensual

Question 11

Weaknesses of chemical castration

Answer 11

• Can have harmful side effects like poor mental health and breast growth
• Unethical if forced

Question 12

What is eugenics and what theories influenced this policy?

Answer 12

Eugenics is the idea that who can reproduce should be controlled. People with desirable characteristics should be encouraged to reproduce and people with undesirable characteristics should be sterilised. Influenced by biological theories like atavism.

Question 13

Strengths of eugenics

Answer 13

• Acknowledges how criminal behaviour could be inherited through genetics
• Can have some positive uses e.g. a mother of six with learning disabilities was sterilised in the UK to protect her from having more children

Question 14

Weaknesses of eugenics

Answer 14

• Forced sterilisation is incredibly unethical
• Was used by the Nazi’s who believed that some people were superior than others. Over 40,000 people forcibly sterilised
• Racist, ablist and homophobic
• What are desirable/undesirable traits is very vague and could be used to do wrong