CRIMINOLOGY WJEC YEAR ONE EXAM FINAL STUDY
GUIDE 2026
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is social policy? - ANSWER-Social policy consists of guidelines, principles, legislation and
activities that affect the living conditions conducive of human welfare, such as their quality of
life.
What causes a change in social policies? - ANSWER-Social policies change due to social change.
An example of this could be the feminist movement. The feminist movement caused changes in
policy so that women were able to vote, etc. Another example could be the death penalty.
Policies changed so that the death penalty was no longer available due to the nature of this
punishment.
What are social values, norms and mores? - ANSWER--Social values - rules shared by most in
society - respect the elderly.
-Norms - social expectations, they keep deviance in check - mourning colours.
-Mores - good way of behaving - not acceptable to do drugs.
How do difference in culture, place and time affect law marking and changing? - ANSWER--Time
- views and opinions change over time or campaigners can promote change and change occurs
due knowledge advancements. E.g. LGBT+ rights and gay marriage.
-Place - the same criminal offences are not necessarily in place throughout the world or even
policed in the same way. E.g. adultery in the Middle East.
-Culture - different cultures view crimes differently, even at the same point in time. E.g.
adultery.
How have public perceptions of crime changed? - ANSWER-- Media is more accessible than
previously so crime information is available all of the time.
- Over reporting in the media of some issues and under reporting others.
- The public reporting more crimes.
- Crime does not always attract the same level of 'shame'.
- We have become more accepting of some crime now.
What is the main idea of the biological theories? - ANSWER-There is a biological difference
between criminals and non-criminals.
, What are the biological theories? - ANSWER-- Lombroso - physiological.
- Sheldon - physiological.
- Jacobs XYY - genetic.
- Adoption/twin studies - genetic.
What are the genetic theories? - ANSWER-- Twin/adoption studies.
- Jacobs XYY.
What are the main principles of Jacobs XYY theory? - ANSWER-Criminality is caused by an extra
Y chromosome. This chromosome produces extra testosterone which causes them to become
more aggressive. This extra chromosome also causes lowered intelligence. The lack of
intelligence leads to them not being aware of the consequences of crime.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of Jacobs XYY theory - ANSWER-Strengths:
- A test identifies that 15 in every 1000 prisoners have the extra Y chromosome.
- Identifies how a lack of intelligence causes a lack of ability to rethink committing crime.
Weaknesses:
- Not all people with this extra Y chromosome are criminals.
- Most criminals do not have the extra Y chromosome.
What are the main principles of twin/adoption studies? - ANSWER-Twin/adoption studies
identify whether criminality is due to a genetic link to criminal parents or due to a the
situation/way they were brought up.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of twin/adoption studies? - ANSWER-Strengths:
- Identifies whether criminality is genetic or due to something in their life.
- Identical twins show high concordance for criminal behaviour.
Weaknesses:
- Difficult to find twins separated at birth.
- Children are sometimes adopted later on.
What are the physiological theories? - ANSWER-- Lombroso - criminality is linked to primitive
features and nature.
- Sheldon - criminality is linked to body type.
GUIDE 2026
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is social policy? - ANSWER-Social policy consists of guidelines, principles, legislation and
activities that affect the living conditions conducive of human welfare, such as their quality of
life.
What causes a change in social policies? - ANSWER-Social policies change due to social change.
An example of this could be the feminist movement. The feminist movement caused changes in
policy so that women were able to vote, etc. Another example could be the death penalty.
Policies changed so that the death penalty was no longer available due to the nature of this
punishment.
What are social values, norms and mores? - ANSWER--Social values - rules shared by most in
society - respect the elderly.
-Norms - social expectations, they keep deviance in check - mourning colours.
-Mores - good way of behaving - not acceptable to do drugs.
How do difference in culture, place and time affect law marking and changing? - ANSWER--Time
- views and opinions change over time or campaigners can promote change and change occurs
due knowledge advancements. E.g. LGBT+ rights and gay marriage.
-Place - the same criminal offences are not necessarily in place throughout the world or even
policed in the same way. E.g. adultery in the Middle East.
-Culture - different cultures view crimes differently, even at the same point in time. E.g.
adultery.
How have public perceptions of crime changed? - ANSWER-- Media is more accessible than
previously so crime information is available all of the time.
- Over reporting in the media of some issues and under reporting others.
- The public reporting more crimes.
- Crime does not always attract the same level of 'shame'.
- We have become more accepting of some crime now.
What is the main idea of the biological theories? - ANSWER-There is a biological difference
between criminals and non-criminals.
, What are the biological theories? - ANSWER-- Lombroso - physiological.
- Sheldon - physiological.
- Jacobs XYY - genetic.
- Adoption/twin studies - genetic.
What are the genetic theories? - ANSWER-- Twin/adoption studies.
- Jacobs XYY.
What are the main principles of Jacobs XYY theory? - ANSWER-Criminality is caused by an extra
Y chromosome. This chromosome produces extra testosterone which causes them to become
more aggressive. This extra chromosome also causes lowered intelligence. The lack of
intelligence leads to them not being aware of the consequences of crime.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of Jacobs XYY theory - ANSWER-Strengths:
- A test identifies that 15 in every 1000 prisoners have the extra Y chromosome.
- Identifies how a lack of intelligence causes a lack of ability to rethink committing crime.
Weaknesses:
- Not all people with this extra Y chromosome are criminals.
- Most criminals do not have the extra Y chromosome.
What are the main principles of twin/adoption studies? - ANSWER-Twin/adoption studies
identify whether criminality is due to a genetic link to criminal parents or due to a the
situation/way they were brought up.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of twin/adoption studies? - ANSWER-Strengths:
- Identifies whether criminality is genetic or due to something in their life.
- Identical twins show high concordance for criminal behaviour.
Weaknesses:
- Difficult to find twins separated at birth.
- Children are sometimes adopted later on.
What are the physiological theories? - ANSWER-- Lombroso - criminality is linked to primitive
features and nature.
- Sheldon - criminality is linked to body type.
