Criminology Lecture 13: Biosocial Theories
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Questions and Answers

What has increased the average educational attainment of Americans in the 20th century?

  • Cultural evolution (correct)
  • Genetic factors
  • Economic conditions
  • Political policies

    • What is the primary argument of the diathesis-stress perspective regarding bad alleles like low activity MAOA?

  • They disappear over time due to evolutionary pressures.
  • They enhance the ability to cope with adversities.
  • They lead to mal-adjustments in difficult environments. (correct)
  • They favor successful behavior in adverse environments.

    • According to the differential susceptibility perspective, what is the role of genes that are considered bad in adverse environments?

  • They only affect physical health, not behavior.
  • They are only harmful and offer no benefits.
  • They can lead to negative outcomes regardless of context.
  • They can also promote success in positive environments. (correct)

    • What trend does the content suggest regarding the relationship between IQ and crime?

    <p>Lower IQ correlates with a higher likelihood of committing crime.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement is true regarding the 5-HTT gene?

    <p>Short alleles are linked to increased sensitivity to punishment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Hirschi and Hindelang find regarding the role of IQ in criminal behavior?

    <p>IQ predicts recidivism and is significant across demographic groups.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the average gap in IQ scores between criminals and non-offenders suggest?

    <p>Criminals score about 8 to 9 points lower on average.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the cumulative effect of possessing both the 5-HTT and DRD4 genes?

    <p>It increases sensitivity to environmental factors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which neurotransmitter is linked to the sensitivity of the DRD4 gene?

    <p>Dopamine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect of IQ does recent research particularly highlight in relation to crime?

    <p>The severity of offending correlates with IQ.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are the findings of the studied populations measured?

    <p>Through an expansive index of their environments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is the relationship between IQ and socioeconomic status characterized in the findings?

    <p>IQ predicts offending across different socioeconomic groups.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one criticism mentioned regarding what IQ scores measure?

    <p>They measure innate cognitive ability.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What implication arises from the persistence of bad genes like the short allele in populations?

    <p>They offer some adaptive advantages in certain contexts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What conclusion can be drawn about genetics in relation to crime and education based on the content?

    <p>Cultural and educational factors outweigh genetic contributions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which gene is associated with a chemical that influences punishment sensitivity?

    <p>5-HTT</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary difference between monozygotic and dizygotic twins in terms of genetic similarity?

    <p>Monozygotic twins are 100% genetically identical, while dizygotic twins share only 50%.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does concordance refer to in the context of twin studies?

    <p>The degree of similarity in behavior between twins.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the heritability estimates provided, what percentage of variance in being classified as a life-course persistent offender can be explained by genetic factors?

    <p>56% to 70%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the Equal Environment Assumption (EEA) in twin studies?

    <p>It posits that twins are raised in identical environments, ensuring that any differences are due to genetics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about dizygotic and monozygotic twins is true?

    <p>Monozygotic twins share a more similar environment due to their identical nature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be inferred about heritability estimates from the content provided?

    <p>They might be overestimated due to environmental differences between twin types.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which study utilized twin research to delve into biological factors influencing crime?

    <p>Barnes and Beaver's study.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the underlying concept of survival machines as described?

    <p>Organisms are designed primarily for reproduction and genetic replication.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theory suggests that individuals with certain genetic traits are more likely to commit crimes in adverse environments?

    <p>Differential susceptibility perspective</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of crime prediction is accounted for by genetics according to the studies mentioned?

    <p>41%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What mediators connect genetics to criminal behavior according to the content?

    <p>Self-control, cognitive abilities, and academic success</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which cohort study involved participants born in the 1970s from New Zealand?

    <p>Dunedin cohort</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is indicated as a major factor affecting the impact of genetics on behavior?

    <p>Environmental conditions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which polygenic score is NOT related to predicting educational success?

    <p>COMT</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the research suggest is crucial in determining which genetic correlates predict crime?

    <p>Outcome variable classification</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a notable characteristic of height in the context of genetics and environment?

    <p>It has a high heritability but is influenced by environmental factors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of DNA in an organism?

    <p>To serve as an instruction manual for building the organism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What determines the phenotype or outcome within an organism?

    <p>The specific genes present in the organism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do alleles differ from polymorphic genes?

    <p>Alleles are specific versions of a gene with slight variations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do certain alleles play in brain neurotransmitter availability?

    <p>They can make neurotransmitters more or less available</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant finding regarding low-activity MAOA alleles among men?

    <p>They predicted higher rates of gang membership and weapon use</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term G*E refer to in the context of behavior?

    <p>Genetics and Environment interaction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes hygienic bees from non-hygienic bees?

    <p>Hygienic bees kill infected larvae, while non-hygienic do not</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What environmental factor is particularly linked to increased criminal behavior among men with low-activity MAOA alleles?

    <p>Exposure to contemporary stress</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the concept of 'predispose' refer to in the context of biological criminology?

    <p>It means to encourage or increase the likelihood of criminal behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which early biological theorist is known for the concept of atavism?

    <p>Cesare Lombroso</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Charles Goring conclude from his study of English convicts and college students?

    <p>Criminals tend to be of below-average height and intelligence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do critiques of early biological theories generally classify the inheritance of traits like feeblemindedness?

    <p>They may be influenced by various external factors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a critique of early biological theories mentioned?

    <p>Early theories are founded on a large and diverse sample.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was observed about the physical stature of criminals according to Goring's research?

    <p>They were typically smaller in height and weight.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant criticism is aimed at Hans Eysneck's research?

    <p>His papers were retracted for issues of fraud.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following differentiates modern biological research from early biological theories?

    <p>It acknowledges the complexity of genetic correlations with behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Criminology Lecture 13: Biosocial Theories

    • Criminals are biologically different from non-criminals, having varying body types, brain structures, and profiles.
    • These biological differences may predispose individuals to crime.
    • Criminals can be identified by psychological abnormalities.
    • Genetics correlates with behavior, but not in a way that is commonly understood.

    Early Biological Theories

    • Charles Darwin: Inspired research on criminal behavior.
    • Cesare Lombroso: Developed the theory of atavism, suggesting criminals are throwbacks to earlier evolutionary stages.
      • Criminals exhibit physical stigmata, distinctive body features.
    • Charles Goring: Studied English convicts, finding no significant physical stigmata to differentiate them from non-criminals, other than being, on average, smaller in size.
      • Determined that Lombroso's theories were inaccurate. Criminals, on average, had lower intelligence, and this was inherited.
    • Criticisms: Many early biological theories are flawed due to poor methodology, fraud, and biased data collection.
      • Limited sample sizes.
      • Weak operational definitions of concepts like "crime" and "feeblemindedness."
      • Failure to accurately measure and analyze genetic predispositions.

    More Recent Biological Research

    • Twin studies: Investigate concordance rates for criminal behavior between identical (monozygotic) and fraternal (dizygotic) twins to examine genetic influence.
      • Higher concordance rates in monozygotic than dizygotic twins shows more evidence of genetic influence.
    • Heritability estimates: Studies suggest that approximately 50-70% of the variance in criminal behavior can be attributed to genetics.
    • Criticisms of heritability studies: Problems with conceptualization.
    • Environmental influences: Environmental factors, including upbringing, socioeconomic status, and experiences in life, equally influence behavior.

    Modern Biosocial Study Examples

    • Simmons et al. (2011): Investigated how genetic risk factors (e.g., monoamine oxidase A) may interact with environmental factors to predict crime.
    • Wertz et al. (2018): Studied the relationship between polygenic scores (combining multiple genetic variations) and criminal behavior. This has shown that genes related to education also correlate with criminal behavior, due to multiple factors and variability.
      • This illustrates a more complex interaction of nature (genetics) and nurture (environment).

    Critically Assessing Modern Biosocial Theories

    • Unquestionable Impact: Genes clearly affect behavior and contribute to risk for criminal behavior.
    • Conditional Impact: The impact of genes is dependent on the environment. Gene expression/outcome may differ, based on experiences in life/culture.
    • Differential Susceptibility: Genes can make individuals more sensitive to either positive or negative environmental experiences.
    • Mediators: Genes influence criminal behavior through various pathways, such as self-control, cognitive abilities, and academic success.

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    Criminology Lecture 13 & 14 Biosocial Theories PDF

    Description

    Explore the biosocial theories of criminology in this informative quiz. Delve into the biological differences among criminals, the historical perspectives from influential theorists such as Darwin and Lombroso, and the evolution of these concepts. Test your understanding of how biology intersects with criminal behavior.

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