Biological and Psychological Positivism Flashcards
(31 cards)
What are the aims of positivism in criminology?
To explain and predict the causes of crime, which are believed to be outside of an individual’s control (e.g. biology, psychology, or social environment).
What methods do positivists use?
Scientific methods such as experiments, surveys, and quantitative data to produce law-like statements (A causes B).
Who is the key figure in early biological positivism?
Cesare Lombroso (1836–1909).
What was Lombroso’s main belief?
Criminals are ‘atavistic’ throwbacks – biologically inferior and identifiable by physical traits
What were some of Lombroso’s claimed physical traits of criminals?
Asymmetrical face, large jaws, twisted nose, long arms, and ears like a chimpanzee
What were the three core ideas of Lombroso’s project?
Determination, differentiation, and pathology.
What replaced the idea of a single “crime gene”?
Belief in multiple genes interacting with social/environmental factors
What are common methods to study genetic influence?
Twin studies and adoption studies.
What did Christiansen’s study find?
Higher concordance of criminality in monozygotic twins (36%) than dizygotic (12%) — suggesting genetic influence.
What limitation exists in twin studies?
Environmental similarity may confound genetic conclusions.
What was Mednick’s finding?
Sons were more likely to offend if biological fathers had criminal records — suggesting a genetic link.
What are criticisms of adoption studies?
Measurement bias, unclear control groups, late adoption, and environment may still influence.
What biological factors are linked to crime?
ADHD, hormone levels (e.g. testosterone), nutrition, and vitamin deficiencies.
What is the key belief of psychological positivism?
Criminals have a distinct ‘criminal mind’ with identifiable patterns in behaviour and reasoning.
What are its main areas?
Psychoanalysis, learning theory, and personality theory.
What are the three parts of the psyche?
Id (pleasure), Ego (reality), Superego (morality).
How is crime explained in psychoanalysis?
Imbalance in id, ego, and superego leads to deviant behaviour
What is classical conditioning?
Behaviour is learned through associations (e.g. Pavlov’s dogs, Little Albert).
What is operant conditioning?
Skinner -Behaviour is shaped by reinforcement and punishment.
What is social learning theory?
Bandura- People learn by observing and imitating role models (e.g. Bobo doll experiment)
What does Differential Association argue?
Crime and attitudes toward crime are learned through frequent, consistent association with others.
What kinds of crime does this help explain?
Both white collar and street crime.
What are Eysenck’s three personality dimensions?
Extraversion, Neuroticism, Psychoticism.
What is the link between personality and crime?
Certain traits (e.g. high extraversion + high psychoticism) may increase the likelihood of criminality.
