criminology theories

• biological theories 


  physiological theories -sheldon+ lombroso

  genetic theories -xyy,twin,adoption
• individualistic theories 


  psychological -personality theory

  psychodynamic -maternal depravation +psychoanalysis

  learning- slt + differential association
• sociological theories


  marxist

  functionalist

  realism

  labelling
• physiological theories -shelodon 


  somatotyoe theory
• physiological sheldon 


  somatotype theory
• somatotype theory description 


  criminals are physically different from non criminals because of their body type. Somatotypes are linked to criminal behaviour
• somatotype 


  Ectomorph

  endomorph

  mesomorph
• ectomorph 


  thin,fragile lacking muscle and fat
• endomorph 


  rounded,soft and fat
• mesomorph


  muscular,hard bodied and strong
• what somatotype is most likely to be criminal

  mesomorph
• sheldons somatotype research 


  researched photographs of 4000 criminals compared to photographs of college students with no criminal history . He rated them on a scale of 1-7 in regards to mesomorphy criminals scored higher on the scale
• somatotype link to crime


  mesomorphs are more likely to commit violent crimes than any other somatotype due to their need to seek adventure and thrill which ineviatably makes them prone to criminality
• lombroso 


  founding father of criminology -born criminal theory
• born criminal theorist 


  lombroso
• born criminal theory description 


  criminals are physically different from non criminals. us and them theory. criminals can be identified distinct physical features . criminals are atavistic (throwback to earlier stages of life ) criminals are savages-impulsive,reduced sensitivity to pain and unable to control their behaviour.
• atavistic features 


  enormous jaws , prominent eyebrow arch , handle bar shaped ears , high cheek bones, large eye sockets, long arms
• lombroso research 


  researched 388 dead criminals and compared them with 3838 living criminals in 1876 . looked at their distinct physical feature. 40% of his research had atavistic features
• born criminal link back to crime 


  these criminals are more desensitised to pain and more impulsive than the rest of society which explains why they commit more crime
• christeansen theory 


  twin studies
• twin studies theorist 


  christeansen
• twin studies description 


  genetic theorists have used twin studies to test whether there is a genetic link to criminality. They use monozygotic twins to test this theory (identical) . If one twin was criminal the other twin should be too according to genetic theories
• christeansen research 


  chris conducted reseach on 3586 twins in denmark . concordance rate for mz twins was 52% - if one identical twin had a conviction there was a 52% chance of the other twin also having a conviction. concordance rate for DZ twins was 22%
• twin studies link back to crime


  this supports genetic explanations as to why people commit crime
• jacobs theory 


  xyy theory
• xyy theory 


  jacobs
• xyy study description


  jacobs said that abnormal sez chromosomes is a cause of criminality

  chromosomes are made up of DNA and proteins and hold many of our genes (we typically have 46)

  men have xy chromosomes women have xx chromosomes

  some males have an extra y chromosome causing an abnormality.known as supermale syndrome
• supermale syndrome characteristics 


  hightened aggression , more violent , low intelligence , strong and well built
• jacobs research 


  based on studies of imprisoned criminals

  higher than average proportion of inmates. were found to have xyy

  many had a history of aggression and violent assault
• xyy link back to crime

  price and whatmore found that xyy males were immature and unstable and were more likely to commit motiveless property crime
• adoption studies theorist 


  mednick et al
• mednick et al 


  adoption studies
• adoption studies description 


  testing the nature vs nurture debate. compare adopted children to their biological parents and their adopted parents .

  aim to find out whether children are more likely to be criminal due to their genetics or their environment
• mednick et al research 


  examined data on 14000 sons in denmark . sons were more likely to have a criminal record if their birth parent also had a criminal record

  concordance rate of 20% -supports a genetic explanation

  concordance rate of 14.7 for children being criminals if their adopted parent had a criminal conviction

  they compared adoptees with and without criminal records
• adoption studies link back to crime 


  adoptees with criminal records were more likely to have bio parents with criminal records that adoptees whose birth parents did not have criminal records
• differential association theory 


  sutherland
• sutherland 


  differential association
• differential association description 


  sutherland argued that people learn their values and techniques for criminal behaviour from those around them their associations -family and peer groups

  through imitation and learned attitudes
• imitation 


  acquiring criminal skills by observing those around them
• learned attitudes 


  socialisation influences a persons norms and values . if a person has more criminal associates than law abiding citizens they are more likely to have a favourable attitude to criminal behaviour as it becomes normal and they commit crime themselves