EXPLANATIONS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR

1. EXPLANATIONS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR WHY DO PEOPLE COMMIT CRIME?

2. * THEORIES of CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR * • Nature or nurture? • PLOMIN (2001) - ‘Behavioural genetic research provides the strongest available evidence for the importance of environmental factors’, and most behavioural disorders reveal a genetic influence • Crime = Seductive (KATZ, 1998) • Crime = Addictive (HODGE et al, 1997) • Crime can give a buzz, risk of danger, fun

3. PHYSIOLOGICAL THEORIES • Physical features, chromosomes, genetic transmission, neurological features - result of internal/innate characteristics • LOMBROSO (1876) - Criminals more primitive than others, with distinguishing features, e.g. jutting jaw, low brow, flattened nose. • SHELDON (1942) - Somatotypes Ectomorph - thin, shy, sensitive Endomorph - large, round, cuddly Mesomorph - Broad, athletic, CRIMINAL!!!

4. TWIN STUDIES - GENETIC THEORIES • Good method for exploring genetic components • Identical twins (MZ) share the same genes, non-identical twins (DZ) share approx. 50% of genes • Similarities between twins can be distinguished as a result of genetic or environmental influences • Studies carried out show MZ twins share more criminal tendencies than DZ twins - Nature, genetic • EVALUATIVE ISSUE - Hard to find subjects willing to participate, and as most twins share same environment, it is difficult to distinguish differences.

5. ADOPTION STUDIES - GENETIC THEORIES • Alternative approach to twin studies to investigate genetic influence • Adopted children showing similar behaviour to biological parents rather than adoptive parents suggests strong genetic link • MEDNICK et al (1987) - boys whose biological parent had a criminal record were more likely to have been convicted than boys whose adoptive parent had a criminal record. • BOHMAN (1995) found there was more chance of criminality when there was a genetic risk factor together with an environmental factor…

6. PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES • Personality • EYSENCK & GUDJONSSON (1989) - Neuroticism & Extroversion linked to anti-social behaviour • Later added Psychoticism, marked by cold and aggressive behaviour EXTROVERT Most Likely STABLE NEUROTIC Least Likely INTROVERT

7. PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORIES • BOWLBY (1944) - Maternal deprivation can have an adverse affect on the child - can lead to deviance and criminal behaviour • Based on FREUD - Dysfunctional families can cause damage to superego and conscience - poorly developed superego = lack of control over anti-social impulses and a lack of guilt - unacceptable behaviour __________________ • In contrast, KOLUCHOVA (1991) describes boys whose mother died shortly after birth - they were fostered for a while then went back to biological father, whose new wife kept them locked in a cage for 5 years - contrary to BOWLBY’s suggestion, the boys led a successful life, with no erratic behaviour etc

8. SOCIAL LEARNING THEORIES • CRIME = A product of learning • SUTHERLAND (1939) - Individuals socialising with groups who regularly offend learn and follow their criminal behaviour • BANDURA (1977) - Children learn from watching role models, e.g. parents, siblings, TV stars. Reinforcers also play a part in learning. • DESENSITISATION = People are so used to seeing crime and violence on TV/films, they see it as the norm

9. * INDIVIDUAL & CUTURAL DIFFERENCES IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR * GENDER • Men found guilty of 80% of crime, women only 20% • Types of crime are different - 80% of women commit fraud or theft, whilst men commit a much wider range of crimes • May be a bias in the reporting of crimes - men who have had women catch them for fraud may be embarrassed to report this AGE • HOLLIN (2001) - Delinquency increases from age 8 until 16/17, then decreases in early 20s.

10. FARRINGTON (1953) Parental influences/upbringing • Longitudinal study, 411 working-class boys, to see how lifestyle affected likelihood of becoming a criminal. • 20% had convictions by age 17, 33% had convictions by age 25 • Offenders showed common characteristics - • Having criminal parents increases likelihood of re-offending Young mother Aggressive Erratic/harsh parental discipline More likely to have criminal parents Drink, smoke, gamble Poor, large family

11. CULTURE • In the UK and USA, more Afro-Caribbean and black African people are in prison than other ethnic groups • REINER (1993) - Possible to say that black crime could be a result of racism • RUSHTON (1990) - Blacks are more likely to be involved in crime due to genetic inferiority • Ethnic groups may commit more crimes because they are at a social disadvantage • Ethnic groups may be biased against when being convicted due to INSTITUTIONAL RACISM

12. * SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF THE CRIMINAL * • Explains behaviour in terms of the social process that can affect the likelihood of criminal activity • ZIMBARDO (1970) - Conditions such as anonymity or involvement within a group can cause DEINDIVIDUATION • Deindividuated people feel that they don’t stand out, so may be tempted to do things they would not usually do - crime. -------------------------------------- • Young women(in groups of 4) gave electric shocks to 2 others - one pleasant, one unpleasant, who could be seen through 1-way mirror • In some groups, women’s appearances were concealed and given numbers instead of names - deindividuated • In the other groups, women were called by their names and made to feel special - individuated • Deindividuated women gave twice as many shocks to both victims than the individuated women • CONCLUSION - If people are made to feel anonymous, they have the potential to do harm to others