Criminology 2.1 biological theories

• Physiological theory - Lombroso


  Certain physical characteristics are associated with being a criminal
• Signs of criminality according to Lombroso

  • Big cheek bones
  • Big lips
  • Excessive arm length
  • Eye defect
  • Many others
• Lombroso claimed that different criminals had different characteristics
• Atavistic form theory


  Criminals were a separate species. A born criminal is an Atavism (throwback to an earlier stage of human evolution)
• Strengths of Lombroso's theory

  • Lombroso was the first person to study crime scientifically
  • His research showed the importance of examining clinical records of criminals
  • Helps us to focus on how we might prevent further offending rather than punishing
• Weaknesses of Lombroso's theory

  • Failed to show a link between facial features and criminality
  • Lombroso failed to compare his findings on prisoners with a control group, he would have found the same characteristics amongst the general population
  • Describing criminals as primitive savages, Lombroso suggests non-western societies are criminals, a form of racism
• Physiological Theory - Sheldon

  Somatypes:

  Endomorphic - round, wide hips…

  Ectomorphic - narrow, thin…

  Mesomorphic - between endmorphic and ectomorphic

  Sheldon claimed that criminals are mesomorphic body type.
• Sheldon examination 


  He examined photographs showing front, side and back view of 4,000 men and thats how he came up with the three somatypes.
• Weakness

  • Criminals may develop a mesomorphic build due to the need to be physically tough to succeed. If so, criminality causes the somatype rather than somatype causing criminality.
  • Convicted offenders are mainly working class males who are more likely to be in manual jobs where they require an athletic build. Social class may be the true cause not the body type.
  • Glueck and Glueck found that criminality was best explained by not biology alone but environmental factors too.
• XYY Syndrome - Jacob et al 


  The presence of an additional male chromosome, this impacts on the individuals behaviour.

  Behaviours like: explosive temper, hyperactivity, defiance and anti social behaviour are found in individuals with XYY.
• Evidence of XYY syndrome

  Jacob found males with XYY were more aggressive than males with XY.

  John Wayne Gacy - believed to have XYY syndrome. He was a serial killer, convicted of the murder of 33 males. However he did have a traumatic childhood so that might be a factor of criminality.
• Strengths of XYY

  • Price and Whatmore found XY males were unstable and likely to commit motiveless crimes.
  • Studies sugget 15 in 1000 prisoners have XYY syndrome which is a substantial figure
  • Jacob found an association between XYY syndrome and offenders imprisoned for violent behaviour
• Weakness - XY syndrome

  • XYY syndrome is too rare to be a theory of criminality, only occurs in 1 in 1000 males
  • Having the syndrome doesn’t mean it is a cause of crime, research is based off links and associations.
  • XYY males fit stereotype of violent and get labelled as a result, not all males with the syndrome commit crime.
• Neurological theory


  Theorist - Moir and Jessel

  Serious brain conditions and injuries can cause dramatically different personalities and behavioural changes which can result in violent impulses.

  Neurochemistry - The brain's chemistry can be altered by chemicals, e.g. bodybuilders who use steroids have higher testosterone levels.
• Phineas Gage 


  Got into an accident on a train track and an iron rod went through his brain.

  This damaged his frontal lobe and affected his behaviour and personality.
• Biochemical theory - Virkkunen 


  Suggested that allergies, environmental conditions and diet can be involved with criminal behaviour.

  Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) has also been suggested as a factor in affecting brain function and contributing to anti social behaviour.
• Biochemical - nutrition Gesch 


  Diet is a factor that links with criminality and violent behaviour.

  It has been found that supplementing prisoners diets with vitamins, fatty acids and minerals leads to a reductions in anti social behaviour.
• Biochemical - Grahn 


  Menstrual time and hormones has been suggested to link with criminality and violent behaviour.

  Female prisoners are much more likely to commit violent crime premenstrual than postmenstrual.
• Adoption studies - Mendick 


  Boys who's biological parent had a criminal record were more likely to have been convicted of a crime than boys whose adoptive parents were convicted.

  Supports the nature side of the nature vs nurture debate