Evaluation of Theories
For your exam you should have memorised around 3 strengths and 3 weaknesses for
every theory. I listed as many as possible for my notes but choose the ones that are
the most memorable for you!! If there are less than 3 strengths/weaknesses then
make sure you explain the 1 or 2 points adequately.
Biological Theories
Name of Theory Positives Negatives
Lomboroso’s - He was considered the father of - Desli claimed that Lombroso’s theory was
Atavistic Theory of modern criminology scientific racism, a lot of the features
Criminality - Lombroso was a perceptive individual, associated with criminality are facial
he identified errors within the prison features associated with African descent,
system, calling prisons ‘criminal for example big lips
universities’ - Lombroso did not have a control group in
- His studies helped change the his study
perspective of the study of criminology - The sample for his study was likely
from moral to scientific biased, they were all people of the same
class and it is likely that some had
undiagnosed physical disabilities
Sheldon’s - Mesomorphs are more likely to be - Somatotype is not fixed and can change
Somatotype Theory found guilty in court throughout your life.
- He found a statistical correlation - 60 - Mesomorphs may be found guilty
percent of delinquents were because of the way society perceives them
mesomorph, compared to just 31 as opposed to the fact that they are
percent in the general population inherently criminal
- He used a control group and had a - He couldn't explain how ectomorphs and
large sample endomorphs could be criminal
Twin Studies - Lange found out that 10 out of 13 - Lange’s study had a small sample size
(Lange, monozygotic twins were criminal, - Both studies do not consider
Christiansesn) displaying a correlation psychological factors impacting criminality
- Twin studies have an indirect impact - Social factors unaccounted for like being
on disease studies raised the same
- Christiansen’s study on concordance
rates supports Lange’s results
- The biological relationships occur
naturally, so these are natural
experiments
Brunner Family - Brunner found an enzyme deficiency - The use of case studies is not reliable -
Studies for the metabolism of serotonin in males, case studies are small samples
which links to anti-social behaviours - It ignores factors such as parenting,
- It takes in to account other factors such culture and social learning.
as intelligence
Jacob’s XYY - XYY men are overrepresented in - Genetic abnormalities are widespread
Theory prison - 15 in 1000 men in prison have and a lot of the time have no impact on
XYY, in comparison to 1 in 1000 for the behaviour whatsoever
general population - It ignores the behaviourist approach
- Alder et Al claimed that aggression - Theilggard found aggression wasn’t
could possibly be determined by associated with XYY chromosomes
, genetics
Adoption Studies - Hutchings and Mednick study supports - We don’t know what age kids were
Crowe’s adoption studies findings separated from their biological parents, so
- Mednick had a large sample size of it is possible that children were influenced
14,000 for his study so it was by social factors
representative - Information about biological parents isn’t
- Adoption separates biological offspring always available
from their parents so we can clearly see - The adoption process is not always
nature versus nurture factors random, children may be placed in families
- Gottfredson and Hirschi argue that similar to their origin one
adoption studies show genes have little
effect on criminality
Biochemical - Sexual hormones, blood sugar levels - Biochemicals can predispose individuals
Explanations and substance abuse can affect mood, to offend but may require environmental
judgement and aggression factors to trigger offending
- Testosterone levels and male offending - Scarmella and Brown found that
peak at the same age, suggesting a link testosterone levels do not greatly affect
- Alcohol produces disinhibition, aggression levels in most men
reducing self control, which can lead to - Infanticicle may be due to isolation and
criminal behaviour. Cocaine has a responsibility rather than hormones
strong link to violent crime
Brain Injury and - Brain injury can lead to major changes - Crimes caused by brain injury are
Disorders in personality rare.Original personality is more important
- Some correlation between abnormal for whether they engage in criminal activity
ECG readings (brainwave activity) and or not
psychopath criminality - It is not clear whether abnormal
- Prisoners are more likely to have brain- brainwave activity causes psychopath
injuries than non-prisoners criminality. Some psychopaths have
normal ECG patterns while some ordinary
people have abnormal ECG patterns
- Prisoners higher likelihood of brain injury
could be a result of their criminality, for
example getting into fights, rather than it
being a cause of criminality
For your exam you should have memorised around 3 strengths and 3 weaknesses for
every theory. I listed as many as possible for my notes but choose the ones that are
the most memorable for you!! If there are less than 3 strengths/weaknesses then
make sure you explain the 1 or 2 points adequately.
Biological Theories
Name of Theory Positives Negatives
Lomboroso’s - He was considered the father of - Desli claimed that Lombroso’s theory was
Atavistic Theory of modern criminology scientific racism, a lot of the features
Criminality - Lombroso was a perceptive individual, associated with criminality are facial
he identified errors within the prison features associated with African descent,
system, calling prisons ‘criminal for example big lips
universities’ - Lombroso did not have a control group in
- His studies helped change the his study
perspective of the study of criminology - The sample for his study was likely
from moral to scientific biased, they were all people of the same
class and it is likely that some had
undiagnosed physical disabilities
Sheldon’s - Mesomorphs are more likely to be - Somatotype is not fixed and can change
Somatotype Theory found guilty in court throughout your life.
- He found a statistical correlation - 60 - Mesomorphs may be found guilty
percent of delinquents were because of the way society perceives them
mesomorph, compared to just 31 as opposed to the fact that they are
percent in the general population inherently criminal
- He used a control group and had a - He couldn't explain how ectomorphs and
large sample endomorphs could be criminal
Twin Studies - Lange found out that 10 out of 13 - Lange’s study had a small sample size
(Lange, monozygotic twins were criminal, - Both studies do not consider
Christiansesn) displaying a correlation psychological factors impacting criminality
- Twin studies have an indirect impact - Social factors unaccounted for like being
on disease studies raised the same
- Christiansen’s study on concordance
rates supports Lange’s results
- The biological relationships occur
naturally, so these are natural
experiments
Brunner Family - Brunner found an enzyme deficiency - The use of case studies is not reliable -
Studies for the metabolism of serotonin in males, case studies are small samples
which links to anti-social behaviours - It ignores factors such as parenting,
- It takes in to account other factors such culture and social learning.
as intelligence
Jacob’s XYY - XYY men are overrepresented in - Genetic abnormalities are widespread
Theory prison - 15 in 1000 men in prison have and a lot of the time have no impact on
XYY, in comparison to 1 in 1000 for the behaviour whatsoever
general population - It ignores the behaviourist approach
- Alder et Al claimed that aggression - Theilggard found aggression wasn’t
could possibly be determined by associated with XYY chromosomes
, genetics
Adoption Studies - Hutchings and Mednick study supports - We don’t know what age kids were
Crowe’s adoption studies findings separated from their biological parents, so
- Mednick had a large sample size of it is possible that children were influenced
14,000 for his study so it was by social factors
representative - Information about biological parents isn’t
- Adoption separates biological offspring always available
from their parents so we can clearly see - The adoption process is not always
nature versus nurture factors random, children may be placed in families
- Gottfredson and Hirschi argue that similar to their origin one
adoption studies show genes have little
effect on criminality
Biochemical - Sexual hormones, blood sugar levels - Biochemicals can predispose individuals
Explanations and substance abuse can affect mood, to offend but may require environmental
judgement and aggression factors to trigger offending
- Testosterone levels and male offending - Scarmella and Brown found that
peak at the same age, suggesting a link testosterone levels do not greatly affect
- Alcohol produces disinhibition, aggression levels in most men
reducing self control, which can lead to - Infanticicle may be due to isolation and
criminal behaviour. Cocaine has a responsibility rather than hormones
strong link to violent crime
Brain Injury and - Brain injury can lead to major changes - Crimes caused by brain injury are
Disorders in personality rare.Original personality is more important
- Some correlation between abnormal for whether they engage in criminal activity
ECG readings (brainwave activity) and or not
psychopath criminality - It is not clear whether abnormal
- Prisoners are more likely to have brain- brainwave activity causes psychopath
injuries than non-prisoners criminality. Some psychopaths have
normal ECG patterns while some ordinary
people have abnormal ECG patterns
- Prisoners higher likelihood of brain injury
could be a result of their criminality, for
example getting into fights, rather than it
being a cause of criminality
