Effectiveness biological theories

• strengths of Lombroso

  • first person to study scientifically, using objective measurements to gather evidence
  • showed importance of examining clinical and historical records of criminals
  • later work took limited account of social And environment factors
  • arguing offenders not freely choosing commit crime
• Limitations -Lombroso

  • researched failed to show link between facial features and criminality
  • failed to compare findings on prisoners with control group of non-criminals
  • equates non-western societies with criminals- form of racism
• strengths of Sheldon

  • others studies replicated findings. Glueck and glueck found 60% of offenders were mesomorphs
  • most serious delinquents in Sheldon’s sample were most extremely Mesomorphic body
• Limitations of Sheldon

  • glueck x2 found criminality best explained by biological, psychological, environmental
  • may develop a mesamorphic build to be physical tough succeed
  • social class may be true cause both of offending and mesomorphy
  • labelling may play part
• Strengths of twin studies

  • because MZ twin genetically identical, logical to examine if offending behaviour is identical
  • some support to genetic explanation.
• Limitations of twin studies

  • is genes were only cause identical twins show 100% concordance.
  • Higher concordance due to sharing same house school and environmental
  • impossible to isolate and measure effect of genes separately from environmental effects
• Strengths of adoption studies

  • overcome problem faced by twin studies
  • research design is logical. Allows to see relative importance of ‘nature’ versus ‘nurture’
  • give some support to genetic explanation. Show adoptees more likely have criminal records if bio parents had criminal records
• limitations of adoption studies

  • gottfredson and hirschi argue it shows genes have little effect on criminality
  • often placed in environmental similar to those of their birth family. Similar environmental=similar behaviour
  • not stopped immediately after birth. Early environment may be true cause of criminality
• strengths of xyy syndrome

  • Jacob et all found an association between xyy syndrome offenders imprisoned for violent behaviour
  • price and whatmore found links between syndrome and property crime
• Limitations of xyy syndrome

  • not price it causes of their violence
  • xyy makes are tall and well built- for stereotypes of’ violent offenders’
  • syndrome is rare can’t explain much crime
• Strengths of brain injuries and disorders

  • few extreme cases
  • some correlation between abnormal EEG readings and psychopathic criminality
  • prisoners more likely than non-prisoners to have brain injury
• Limitations is brain injuries and disorders

  • crimes caused by brain injury or disease are rare
  • not clear abnormal brainwave activity causes psychopathic criminality. Some psychopaths have normal EEG
  • prisoners likelihood of brain injury could be result of their criminality
• Strengths of biochemical explanation

  • sexual hormones, blood sugar levels, substance abuse can affect mood, judgement and aggression
  • testosterone peak around same age, suggesting hormones affedt criminal behaviour
  • cocaine like to violent crime And alcohol
• Limitations of biochemical explanations

  • Scarmella and Brown found testosterone levels not greatly affect aggression levels in most men.
  • Schalling found high testosterone levels in young males led verbal aggression, not physical violence.
  • Infanticide may be due to isolation and responsibility for caring newborn child rather than hormones.
• General criticisms of biological theories

  • environmental factors
  • sample bias
  • gender bias
  • crime is social constructi