biological theories

Question 1

XYY

Answer 1

Genetic
“Supermales”
They have more testosterone which makes them more violent and therefore makes them more inclined to commit violent crimes.
15 XYY prisoners out of 1000, 1 XYY person out of 1000 of the public.
For example, John Wayne Gacy.

Question 2

Twin studies

Answer 2

Genetic
MZ (identical) twins showed higher rates of concordance from criminality than DZ (non-identical) twins.
10 out of 13 MZ twins had both served time in prison, compared to 2 out 17 DZ twins.
For example, the Kray twins (identical) had a criminal gang.

Question 3

Adoption studies

Answer 3

Genetic
Studied 14,000 adopted children. Found that a high proportion of boys with criminal convictions, had biological parents with convictions too.
Found no correlation between crime and their non biological parents.
For example, Gerald Stano-his mother put him up for adoption after neglecting him and he ended up committing 41 murders.

Question 4

Lombroso’s atavistic form

Answer 4

Physiological
Lombroso’s theory was that the ‘criminal’ was an ‘genetic throwback’ of a primitive stage of human evolution.
Lombroso argued that people with genetic throwbacks shared similar features which were different to the features of non-criminals.
40% of criminal acts are committed by people with atavistic characteristics.
For example, big ears, unibrow, big nose.

Question 5

Sheldon’s somatotypes theory

Answer 5

Physiological
Endomorph-fat
Ectomorph-lanky
Mesomorph- big, muscly
Sheldon suggested that mesomorphs are most likely to engage in crime.
They seem themselves as bigger than other’s so believe they have more power over them and are more likely to commit violent crimes.
For example, Edmund Kemper- bulky build, 6 foot 7, murdered 10 people.

Question 6

Brain abnormalities

Answer 6

Neurological
Damage in the prefrontal cortex may make individuals have an increased loss of self-control.
People who suffered serious head injuries are twice as likely to end up in prison than those without head injuries, (0.5% compared to 0.2%).
For example, Charles Whitman-Stood on top of a tower and sniped 14 people dead, when he died it was found he had a brain tumour.

Question 7

Neurochemical explanations

Answer 7

Neurological
Neurochemical explanations focus on how imbalances or changes in brain chemicals contribute to behaviours, mental health conditions, and addiction.
For instance, low levels of serotonin are associated with aggression and impulsivity.
For example, Richard Ramirez-Abused drugs from 10 years old, had brain damage, was a sex offender and serial killer.