crim unit 2

• What is the XXY theory (Jacob et al)

  Having an extra ‘Y’ chromosome, “super male”.

  Found to be aggressive.
• Adoption Studies (Mednick)

  Comparison of behaviour of offspring to adopted and biological parents. Offspring with criminal convictions often have biological parents with criminal history.
• Twin Studies ( Lange; Christiansen)

  Monozygotic twins more likely to exhibit criminal behaviour.

  Male twins more likely to share criminal characteristics.
• What are some strengths of adoption studies?

  . Shows link between adopted offspring and biological parents

  . Separation of genetic and environmental factors.
• What are some strengths of twin studies?

  . Natural experiments due to biological relationships.

  . Advancements in medical disorders post studies.
• What are some weaknesses of adoption studies?

  . Confidentiality of biological family data.

  . Influence of biological parent environment on older adopted children.
• What are some weaknesses of twin studies?

  . Small sample sizes question validity.

  . Influence of nurture over nature in twins raised together.
• What are the main biological theories of criminality?

  Phrenology (Lombroso), Somatotypes (Sheldon) and Neurochemistry ( Scarborough and Raine).
• Nick Leeson


  Crimes: Murder and rape

  Social learning theory: witnessed father beat mother, raped at age 12, behaviours reflected childhood trauma.
• Fred West


  Crime: Murder and rape

  Theory of personality: Rumoured introduction to sex by mother, acts of bestiality in childhood, lack of progression from id to ego.
• Robert Knapper


  Crimes: Fraud

  Social structure theory: white collar crime not prioritised by police, reason for delayed capture.
• Sarah’s Law


  Mother’s campaign for sex offender list, tragic case of Sarah Payne, News of the World’s publication, establishment of Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme
• Double Jeopardy


  Julie Hogg’s case, abolishment of double jeopardy law, Criminal Justice Act 2003 impact
• British Lung Foundation


  Campaign for smoking ban in cars with children, advocacy for plain packaging on cigarettes, Children and Families act 2014 implementation
• Social Structure - Marxism (Marx)


  . Crime as a tool for social control

  . Core institutions enforcing control

  . Disparity in targeting white-collar vs. blue-collar crime
• What are some advantages of biological theories?


  . Looks at different internal factors which produce crime

  . Scientific method is used, is progressive, more accurate data, finds new ways to treat offenders
• What are some negatives of biological theories?


  . Ignores a lot of environmental factors

  . Hard to get representative data

  . Over-focuses on male offenders
• What are some traits of Lombroso’s ‘criminal man’?

  Large jaw, big ears, large chin, fleshy lips, insensitivity to pain, high cheekbones
• What are some criticisms of Lombroso?


  . Largely ignored social context/environmental factors

  . Deterministic - crime out of an individuals control

  . Stigmatisation of criminals as ’sick’
• What is eugenics?


  Eugenics is the practice or advocacy of improving the human species by selectively mating people with specific desirable hereditary traits
• What is the purpose of eugenics?


  It aims to reduce human suffering by “breeding out” disease, disabilities and so-called undesirable characteristics from the human population
• What was Sheldon’s (1942) theory?


  Criminals are physically different from non-criminals - body shapes link to criminal behaviour
• What are the three somatotypes?


  Endomorph, mesomorph, ectomorph
• Who did Sheldon study?


  Sheldon studied 400 boys in a residential rehabilitation home, gathered data from family backgrounds and monitored their growth for 8 years
• What are some positives of physiological theories?


  . Scientific - measurements of criminals using quantitative data for the first time

  . Medical - a link to medical reasons for crime

  . Treatment - born criminals can be cured
• What are some negatives of physiological theories?


  . Out of date research

  . Lacking objectivity

  . Correlational problems

  . Environmental problems
• What are genetic theories?


  Inherited traits are the most important factors that cause crime
• Adoption theory - Hutchings and Mednick


  Studied, 14,427 adopted children. Found that sons were more likely to have criminal record if birth parent had one (20% - compared to 14% with only adopted parents)
• Abnormal brainwave activity - Amygdala?


  When malfunctioning, can be linked to violence, unusual emotional responses, possibly a lack of fear, more activity on the right
• Abnormal brainwave activity - Hippocampus?


  When faulty, results in the inability to learn from mistakes, repeat criminal behaviour, more activity on the right
• Abnormal brainwave activity - Corpus callosum?


  When low activity causes problems with spotting long-term consequences of behaviour
• Abnormal brainwave activity - Prefrontal Cortex?


  Low activity reduces rational thought and moral judgement, less self-control, more impulsive criminal behaviour
• Abnormal brainwave activity - Occipital Lobe?


  Overstimulated in violent and sexual offenders
• What external factors might affect brain function?


  Diet, educational provision, drugs, living conditions, culture and customs, physical trauma, emotional trauma, pollution, alcohol
• What sex hormones affect crime?


  . Testosterone levels in males

  . Premenstrual tension

  . Post-natal depression
• What does low levels of dopamine cause?


  Depression, boredom, apathy, fatigue
• What does low levels of serotonin cause?


  Obsessive thinking, addiction, anxiety, seasonal affective disorder
• What are some positives of biochemical theories?


  . Chemical imbalances are recognised in Criminal Law

  . Chemical imbalances are also recognised as partial defences in criminal law

  . Punishmet can focus on providing support for addiction problems
• What are some negatives of biochemical theories?


  . Difficult to know the extent of biochemical effects

  . All crime might have some chemical imbalance so not always useful

  . Diet and substance abuse might be more affected by social-economical factors
• How might offenders have poor cognition?

  Lying, being secretive, need for power, super optimism, not understanding others, lack of trust, uniqueness, victim stance