Biological evaluations

Question 1

XYY

Answer 1

Pro’s:
15 XYY per 1000 men in prison populations, 1 per 1000 in the general population therefore, overrepresentation in prison populations.
It has been found that people with XXY are more prone to committing violent crime.
Con’s:
Not all violent offenders have the XXY gene, therefore it cannot explain all instances of criminal behaviour.
XXY males also tend to have a lower IQ, this may make them more likely to commit a crime, or get caught committing it.

Question 2

Twin studies

Answer 2

Pro’s:
Research support.
MZ twins have 100% the same DNA it is logical to investigate this.
Con’s:
Twins are a small portion of the population.
Twins are also raised in the same environment and it may be the environment that influences criminal behaviour, making them both commit crimes because of how they have been brought up.

Question 3

Adoption studies

Answer 3

Pro’s:
Lots of research support.
Adopted children are exposed to a different environment compared to their biological family making it easier to investigate the influence of nature vs nurture as environmental and biological factors are separated.
Con’s:
The age of when the child was adopted is not considered.
Adoption can be traumatic, this can cause maternal deprivation which is not considered.

Question 4

Lombroso’s atavistic form

Answer 4

Pro’s:
Lombroso was the first to move away from religious views of criminology, this started a wave of new theories.
Con’s:
This theory is not that reliable, it has no research support and there is actually research against this theory.

Question 5

Sheldon’s somatotype theory

Answer 5

Pro’s:
Other studies have replicated Sheldon’s findings
There is lots of research support.
Large control group used.
Con’s:
Although most criminals are mesomorphs, not all of them are, the theory can’t explain this.
Mesomorphs are often labelled as criminals, this means that the labelling theory could have a role in this.

Question 6

Brain abnormalities

Answer 6

Pro’s:
Research support.
Con’s:
Criminals may have brain abnormalities due to engaging in criminal behaviour like fighting.
Crime caused by brain abnormalities is rare.

Question 7

Neurochemical explanations

Answer 7

Pro’s:
Research support.
Recognised by the courts.
Con’s:
Just because someone has mental issues or addiction, it doesn’t mean they will have criminal behaviour.
It can also be an environmental reason plus there neurochemical issue that causes someone to do bad things, they may not do it is the environmental factor wasn’t involves.