BIOLOGICAL THEORIES - GENETIC - adoption STUDIES

Question 1

What was the main idea?

Answer 1

the idea that criminal behaviour can be explained in comparison of biological parents and adoptive parents

Question 2

what do biological and adoptive parents represent

Answer 2

Nature + nurture

Question 3

If a child is more similar to their biological parents what can be suggested?

Answer 3

a genetic basis of criminality

Question 4

summarise mednicks findings

Answer 4

looked at court convictions in a small European country and found 14,000 adoptees amongst them. The criminal records of their biological and adoptive parents were then investigated. Many of the adoptees had biological parents who were criminals (and there was a particularly strong relationship for sons and fathers).

Question 5

tell me a strength of adoption studies in explaining criminality.

Answer 5

Adopted kids grow up away from their biological parents - influence of genetics without the influence of their exposure to criminal behaviour

Question 6

tell me a limition to do with the similarity of biological and adoptive parents

Answer 6

Adopted children are often placed in environments similar to those of their birth family, with families of the same class and ethnicity in the same locality. Similar environments could therefore produce the same results meaning there is less emphasis on the genetics.

Question 7

is the argument in favour of nature or nurture?

Answer 7

nature

Question 8

Tell me another limitation

Answer 8

The psychological impact of being adopted could lead to individuals displaying criminality