Forensic Psychology

• Who proposed the atavistic form as an explanation for offending behavior?

  Lombroso
• What did Lombroso argue about criminals in relation to non-criminals?


  He argued that criminals are biologically different and have an innate predisposition to behave anti-socially.
• How did Lombroso describe criminals in terms of human evolution?


  He described them as a more primitive form of human, less civilized than modern humans.
• What is the term Lombroso used to describe the physical features of criminals?


  Atavistic form
• What type of data did Lombroso use to support his theory?


  Measurements from almost 4,000 criminals and skulls of nearly 400 dead criminals.
• What are some examples of atavistic features identified by Lombroso?


  • Heavy brow
  • Large strong jaw
  • Large ears
  • Extra nipples or extra fingers/toes
• What non-physical trait did Lombroso associate with criminals?


  Insensitivity to pain
• What criticism did Lombroso's research face regarding scientific rigor?


  He had no control group to compare the features of criminals to.
• Who conducted a study that compared London convicts to a control group?

  Goring
• What was Goring's conclusion regarding criminal behavior and physical appearance?

  He concluded that criminal behavior is not linked to physical appearance.
• What title is Lombroso often credited with in criminology?


  Father of modern criminology
• How did Lombroso's views differ from earlier perspectives on criminality?


  He used a more scientific explanation rather than attributing criminality to bad spirits or the devil's influence.
• What has happened to the idea of criminal types since Lombroso's time?


  The idea has become more sophisticated, with concepts like criminal personality and offender profiling emerging.
• What did Hooton find in his study of male prisoners compared to a control group?


  He found differences in physical characteristics but they were not the same as those identified by Lombroso.
• What physical characteristics did Hooton identify as associated with criminals?


  Sloping foreheads, protruding ears, and narrow jaws.
• What limitation is mentioned regarding the determination of causation in atavistic traits?


  Atavistic traits may be common among criminals but do not necessarily cause offending behavior.
• What factors might influence facial and cranial features according to the text?

  Poverty or poor diet
• What did Agnew argue regarding interactions and offending behavior?


  Unpleasant interactions due to appearance can increase frustration and anger, leading to offending behavior.
• What general observation is made about offending behavior in families?


  Offending behavior runs in families.
• What do twin studies, adoption studies, and family studies help establish regarding criminal behavior?


  They help establish whether there may be genetic transmission of criminal behavior.
• What did Lange's study involve?


  13 pairs of identical twins and 17 pairs of non-identical twins.
• What was Lange's conclusion regarding the twins in his study?


  30% of MZ twins had a co-twin who was also in prison, compared to 6% of DZ twins.
• What did Crowe find regarding adopted children and criminal records?


  Adopted children with a biological parent who had a criminal record had a 50% risk of having a criminal record by age 18.
• What was the risk of criminal records for adopted children without a biological parent with a criminal record?


  5% risk
• What did Farrington's study reveal about convicted parents and their children?


  About 75% of convicted fathers and mothers had a convicted child.
• What abnormalities did Tiihonen et al. reveal in their study related to violent crime?


  Abnormalities in the MAOA and CHD13 genes.
• What was the increased likelihood of violent behavior associated with the high-risk gene combination found by Tiihonen et al.?


  Individuals were 13 times more likely to have a history of violent behavior.
• What limitation is mentioned regarding the effect of environment in genetic studies?


  The twins and families likely share the same environment.
• What is suggested about MZ twins and environmental effects?


  MZ twins are treated similarly due to their appearance, increasing environmental effects.
• What does the diathesis-stress model suggest about genetics and offending behavior?


  Genetics may predispose individuals to criminal behavior, moderated by environmental effects.
• What did Mednick's study reveal about convictions in Danish adoptees?


  The rate of convictions increased with the criminal history of biological and adoptive parents.
• What were the conviction rates when neither biological nor adoptive parents had a criminal conviction?


  13.5%
• What were the conviction rates when either biological or adoptive parents had a conviction?


  20%
• What were the conviction rates when both biological and adoptive parents had convictions?


  24.5%
• What did Brunner's case study analyze?


  The X chromosomes of 28 members of a Dutch family with a history of violence.
• What defect did Brunner find in the violent men of the family he studied?


  A defect on the X chromosome and abnormally low levels of MAOA in their brains.
• What caution is advised when generalizing from Brunner's case study?


  All men shared the same aggressive environment.
• What dilemma does the notion of a criminal gene present for the legal system?


  It challenges the assumption of personal and moral responsibility for actions.
• What do neural explanations refer to in the context of offending behavior?


  They refer to the (dys)function of the brain and nervous system.
• What percentage of the general US population has had a brain injury?

  1. 5%