CRIMINOLOGY UNIT 2 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND EXPLAINED
CORRECT ANSWERS
What comes under Biological theories?
Genetic theories, Physiological theories
What comes under Genetic theories?
'XYY' theory, twin study, adoption study
What is the 'XYY' theory?
A male having an extra Y chromosome also known as super
males
What did Jacob et AL (1965) suggest about XYY?
Males with XYY chromosomes are more aggressive and thus
more inclined to be more violent then males with a single Y
chromosome
What did Jacob et al (1965) find out about the prison
population?
A significant of men in prison had XYY sex chromosomes instead
of the normal XY.
Individuals with XYY syndrome also have low levels of...
Intelligence
,However what reason may be resulting in the XXY syndrome
affecting crime rates?
However, they are at an increased risk of developmental delay
and learning difficulties....it has been found that there is a small
association between learning difficulties and criminal behaviour.
What contradictory evidence was found that has questioned
the XXY syndromes theory?
that testosterone and aggression levels amongst XYY men are
no different from XY men
What is the main idea of the Twin Studies?
The main idea of the twin studies is that a heritable trait may
increase the risk for criminal behaviour.
What are the types of twins
Identical = monozygotic MZNon identical= dizygotic DZ
What is concordance rate?
When both twins share a characteristic, it can help to indicate a
possible genetic tendency
What did Christiansen find about the twin study?
Over 3500 twins. Concordance rate of 35% MZ and 13% DZ for
males 21% MZ and 8% DZ for females
What are adoption studies?
, Adopted child compared to the biological family and their
adopted family
- Want to see if environment plays a big role.
How would a genetic basis be suggested within the adoption
studies?
If in criminal behaviour the child is more similar to their
biological parents than adoptive parents (with whom they share
the same environment) then it is genetic
How would an environmental basis be suggested within the
adoption studies?
If a child is more similar to their adoptive parents than
biological parents, an environment argument is preferred
What research support is there for the adoption studies?
Hutchings and mednick 1975- studies 14000 adoptive children
and found that a high proportion of boys with criminal
convictions had biological parents with criminal convictions too.
Further support for the adoption studies...
Mednick et al (1994) later found no relationship between the
number of criminal convictions of adoptive parents and their
adoptive children but did find a significant correlation between
the number of criminal convictions of the biological parents and
their offspring
What comes under physiological theories?
QUESTIONS AND EXPLAINED
CORRECT ANSWERS
What comes under Biological theories?
Genetic theories, Physiological theories
What comes under Genetic theories?
'XYY' theory, twin study, adoption study
What is the 'XYY' theory?
A male having an extra Y chromosome also known as super
males
What did Jacob et AL (1965) suggest about XYY?
Males with XYY chromosomes are more aggressive and thus
more inclined to be more violent then males with a single Y
chromosome
What did Jacob et al (1965) find out about the prison
population?
A significant of men in prison had XYY sex chromosomes instead
of the normal XY.
Individuals with XYY syndrome also have low levels of...
Intelligence
,However what reason may be resulting in the XXY syndrome
affecting crime rates?
However, they are at an increased risk of developmental delay
and learning difficulties....it has been found that there is a small
association between learning difficulties and criminal behaviour.
What contradictory evidence was found that has questioned
the XXY syndromes theory?
that testosterone and aggression levels amongst XYY men are
no different from XY men
What is the main idea of the Twin Studies?
The main idea of the twin studies is that a heritable trait may
increase the risk for criminal behaviour.
What are the types of twins
Identical = monozygotic MZNon identical= dizygotic DZ
What is concordance rate?
When both twins share a characteristic, it can help to indicate a
possible genetic tendency
What did Christiansen find about the twin study?
Over 3500 twins. Concordance rate of 35% MZ and 13% DZ for
males 21% MZ and 8% DZ for females
What are adoption studies?
, Adopted child compared to the biological family and their
adopted family
- Want to see if environment plays a big role.
How would a genetic basis be suggested within the adoption
studies?
If in criminal behaviour the child is more similar to their
biological parents than adoptive parents (with whom they share
the same environment) then it is genetic
How would an environmental basis be suggested within the
adoption studies?
If a child is more similar to their adoptive parents than
biological parents, an environment argument is preferred
What research support is there for the adoption studies?
Hutchings and mednick 1975- studies 14000 adoptive children
and found that a high proportion of boys with criminal
convictions had biological parents with criminal convictions too.
Further support for the adoption studies...
Mednick et al (1994) later found no relationship between the
number of criminal convictions of adoptive parents and their
adoptive children but did find a significant correlation between
the number of criminal convictions of the biological parents and
their offspring
What comes under physiological theories?
