biological explan for offending

• lombroso - links physical characteristics to crime
• positivist criminology says that criminal behaviour results from physcial and psycholgoical features
• atavistic features - strong jaw, heavy brow, extra fingers or toes, long arms
• atavistic form - features that criminals have
• atavistic - comes from genetic throwbacks - not as evolved
• lombroso strengths - highlighted role of biology - interaction between biology and physiologicla factors
• mednick et al - adoption studies on criminal behaviour - genetic link is supported but concordance is quite low suggesting that other factors still influence criminality
• genetic influences on agression - link between genes and aggression
• jacobs et al - higher percentage of prision pop have atypical chromosome pattern xyy - this leads to increased violence which might result in offending behaviour
• raine et al - neural explan of criminality - link between brain dysfunction and predisposition to violence
• strengths - studies support - tested scientifically
• weaknesses - no studies have had a 100% concordance rate - reductionist
• MAOA linked to high levels of criminality
• if low its called MAOA-L - this gene controls serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline which affects aggression
• diathesis stress model - MAOA and environment
• neurological structures - reduced limblic system in criminals which means guilt and empathy are inhibited
• research is socially sensitive
• maoa-l leads to poorer impulse control
• charles whitman - tumor on amygdala
• brunner - family in netherkands
• raine - those with anti social personality disorder had less grey matter in prefrontal cortex