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BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOURS. INHERITED CRIMINALITY. -…
BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOURS.
INHERITED CRIMINALITY.
GENETIC FACTORS
Hollin (1992) believes that individuals inherit a biological predisposition for criminal behaviours linked to a personality type
Individuals may also inherit a gene that makes them more aggressive
The gene for monoamine oxidase type-A (MAOA), helps to recycle the neurotransmitter serotonin
Seo et al (2008) proposed that low levels of serotonin may predispose individuals to impulsive and aggressive behaviour
Brunner et al (1993) analysed the DNA of 28 male members of a Dutch family who had impulsive and violent criminal behaviours- rape and attempted murder. Researchers found that the men shared a gene that led to low levels of MAOA (warrior gene)
Tiihonen et al (2015) 900 offenders found evidence of low MAOA activity and low activity from CDH13 gene
DIATHESIS STRESS MODEL
Genes are switched on or off by epigenetics which are affected by environmental factors- a diathesis stress
Maltreatment in childhood could be an environmental factor
Epigenetics- there is an interplay between genes and the environment
Caspei (2002) used data from the longitudinal study of Dunedin (1,000 people). He assessed antisocial behaviour at age 26 and found 12% of men with low MAOA gene experienced maltreatment but were responsible for 44% of violent convictions
CAMBRIDGE STUDY OF DELINQUENT DEVELOPMENT
Osborn and West (1979) reported on a survey of 383 of the original 411 males
Osborn and West reported on the number of sons who had criminal convictions and found that 40% of sons with ‘criminal fathers’ also had a criminal conviction, compared to only 13% of the sons with ‘non-criminal’ fathers
Researchers have reported factors that explain delinquency and criminal behaviour in the sample
Farrington (2002) reported on criminal behaviour in the family and found that if the father had been arrested then there was a high chance the son would have been arrested as well
Longitudinal study of boys with a sample size of 411 males born in 1953, working class area of London
There was a high probability that another family member would have also been arrested
Cambridge Study of Delinquent Development is a study that started in 1962