Biological theories

Question 1

Briefly describe Jacob’s XYY study

Answer 1

The extra y chromosome in men is thought to make them hyper-masculine thus make them making them more violent, causing them to commit crimes

Question 2

Evaluation of Jacob’s XYY study

Answer 2

Strengths
- men with the extra y chromosome have been found to commit more crimes than those without
Weakness
-men with the extra y chromosome are more likely to commit non-violent crimes

Question 3

Briefly describe twin studies

Answer 3

Lange took out a study on 30 pairs of same sex twins. 17 dizygotic and 13 monozygotic. Lange found that 10/13 twins both were known as criminals compared to 2/17. the chance of one twin taking part in criminal behaviour if the other twin was criminal was 50% in MZ twins and 20% in DZ twins

Question 4

Evaluation of Jacobs XYY

Answer 4

Strengths
- twins often grow up in the same environment so the study is more controlled
Weaknesses
-difficult to separate genetic factors from social factors

Question 5

Briefly describe adoption studies

Answer 5

The behaviour of the adopted child is compared with the effects of the adopted and biological parents . studies show an adoptee with a biological parent who is criminal is more likely to take part in property crime (stronger in boys)

Question 6

Evaluation of adoption studies

Answer 6

Strengths
-can determine genetics
Weaknesses
-age of adoption
-adopted parents can have a positive effect

Question 7

Briefly describe Lombroso

Answer 7

criminals were a throwback to early stages of evolution. compared physical characteristics of Italian prisoners to Italian soldiers. stated criminals have features such as large hands monkey like ears and large chins. though tattoos were seen as markings of a born criminal.

Question 8

Evaluation of Lombroso

Answer 8

Strengths
-studies support his findings
Weaknesses
-his study is far too simplistic
-scientific racism

Question 9

Briefly describe Sheldon’s theory

Answer 9

Sheldon stated that a persons body type can determine whether or not they are criminal. three body types; mesomorph, endomorph, ectomorph. mesomorph was more likely to be criminal.

Question 10

Evaluation of Sheldon’s theory

Answer 10

Strengths
-found that many convicts were mesomorph
Weaknesses
-body types can change over time
-no one body type is more criminal than the other