Summary Notes ensuring grade A essays in offending

BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS of offending = Suggest causes of offending are
influenced by physiological factors

ATAVISTIC FORM: Lombroso ( Proposed theory in book ‘The Criminal
Man’)
- Argued that criminals are ‘genetic throwbacks’ = Whom exhibit
‘atavistic’ features that allows for criminals to be identified from the
public
- There are distinct biological classes that make individuals prone to
becoming a criminal
- Atavistic Features
o Thieves:
 Small,wandering eyes
 Expressive faces
o Murderers
 Cold,Glassy stares
 Hawk-like noses
- Lombroso conducted research where he examined the faces + cranium
features of Italian convicts = 40% of offenders had atavistic features

NEURAL EXPLANATION: ( Modern day explanation for offending )

1. Brain Structure
o Argues that there are neural differences in the brain of offenders
+ non-offenders
o Brain scans have shown that individuals with Anti-Social
Personality disorder (APD) = Reduced activity in prefrontal
cortex
 Leading to inability to express empathy
 Offenders seem to have APD
2. Neurotransmitters
o Increased levels of norepinephrine
 Aggressive behaviour
o Decreased levels of norepinephrine
 Antisocial behaviour
o Reduced levels of serotonin in the limbic system are also
associated with criminal behaviour

GENETIC EXPLANATION:

- Suggests the inheritance of particular genetic factors could predispose
individuals to commit crimes
o TWIN STUDIES SUPPORT THE GENETIC LINK
 TS of 3500 twins in Denmark = Concordance rates for
offending behaviour was 35% for MZ males + 13% for DZ
males
 Suggests that there is a a genetic factor
determine criminality
o CANDIDATE GENES
 MAOA gene = Responsible for regulating serotonin +
dopamine
 Mutations in candidate genes found in offenders
 Mutation is associated with violent behaviours