BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS OF

CRIMEWhat are the Biological explanations of

crime?

Connector Watch the montage clip of Bond films. As soon as you think you’ve seen a

baddie, write down what it is about that person that makes you think s/he is a baddie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ5DY0szeN8

Objectives All will be able to outline the physiological

explanations of crime.

Most will be able to outline psychological explanations of crime and explain how they are different to physiological explanations.

Some will be able to independently identify criticisms of these biological theories of crime.

Task 1 1. In pairs, read the cards. The

cards are different explanations of crime.

2. Decide which explanations you agree with the most and which you agree with the least.

3. Arrange them in a diamond shape from the one you agree with the most to the one you least agree with.

4. Extension – can you identify which explanations are sociological and which are biological?

1

22

333

5

44

The explanatio

n you agree with the most

The explanation of crime you least agree with

Biological explanations of crime

Physiological explanations of crime

Psychological explanations of crime

Criminals look different Criminals’ minds are

different

Task 1 Work in groups of 4.

The groups will be in competition against each other!

Research one of the following:

o Lombroso’s theoryo Genetics theoryo Eysenck’s theory o PMT and maternal

deprivation theories

Make a poster about it for the class including:

Name of Sociologist (if applicable)

What do they say is the reason why some people are criminal?

Is this explanation for crime physiological or psychological?

Criticism of the theory You have 30 minutes.

Task 21. Fill in the worksheet with information from your poster.

2. Choose one member of your group to be the ‘seller’ – this person needs to have excellent presentational skills. The remaining 3 members of the group will be the ‘buyers’.

3. The seller has to stay with your poster and ‘sell’ your knowledge to ‘buyers’ from other groups.

4. The ‘buyers’ have to go to the other groups to ‘buy’ their knowledge – listen to the ‘seller’s’ explanation and fill in the worksheet. Judge how good their product (knowledge, poster, explanation, etc.) was and pay them accordingly. The group that makes the most money wins!

5. You have 10 minutes!

Task 31. The ‘buyers’ have to return to their

original groups and take turns to explain what they found out. You must explain, not just let them copy your notes!

2. Everyone else has to fill in the worksheet.

You have 15 minutes.

Lombroso Explanation - This theory of crime was developed by a 19th century Italian

doctor and criminologist Lombroso. He studied prisoners and concluded that they all had certain physical features in common. These included: high cheekbones, big jaws, extra fingers or toes, large ears, large noses.

Therefore, Lombroso claimed it is possible to identify potential offenders by the way they look as they are born physically deformed and are thus predisposed to criminality. In other words, according to Lombroso, ugly or physically disabled people are more likely to be criminal.

This is a physiological theory as it argues that it is the physiology (body) of a person that may make them criminal.

Criticisms - Modern Sociologists have discredited Lombroso’s theory. However, his theory has had a lasting effect on our perceptions of criminals as we all have a stereotyped idea of what a criminal looks like. For example, in films we all know the ‘baddie’ as soon as we see him/her.

In Nazi Germany, this theory was used as a justification for the extermination of Roma, Jewish and other people so it is racist.

Genetics Explanation - Biological theories on crime claim that

imbalances in hormones may lead people to crime. For example, they claim that criminals have lower level of serotonin (‘happy’ hormones) than other people.

We inherit genes from our parents so if our parents are criminal we are likely to be criminal as well as we would have inherited their criminal genes.

This is a physiological theory as it argues that it is the physiology (body) of a person that may make them criminal.

Criticisms – this theory justifies crime as it implies that criminals can’t control their own behaviour – it’s not their fault that they’re criminal because it’s in their genes.

It is possible that if parents are criminal, their children learn how to be criminal simply by spending time with their parents.

Eysenck Explanation – This theory explains criminal activity through the criminal’s

personality and mental stability. This theory originated in the 1960s through the work of Eysenck who claimed that there are two types of personality:

Introvert (individuals who are shy, quiet and reserved) Extravert (individuals who are outgoing, confident and tend to be

aggressive). Eysenck claimed that those with extravert personality are more likely to

engage in criminal activity as their personality may lead them into trouble.

Also, according to this theory, criminals are mentally ill; they suffer from illnesses such as schizophrenia which leads them into crime.

Moreover, they are born this way. This is a psychological theory as it argues that it is the way a person’s

mind works that may make them criminal. Criticisms - this theory justifies crime as it implies that criminals

can’t control their own behaviour – it’s not their fault that they’re criminal because they are mentally ill.

PMT and maternal deprivation Explanation - Premenstrual

tension theory argues that women are more likely to commit offences during the time of their period. This is because stress caused by menstruation can make women irrational.

This is a physiological theory as it argues that it is the physiology (body) of a person that may make them criminal.

Criticism – if this theory was correct than most if not all women would be criminal, when in fact most women are law abiding.

Explanation - Maternal deprivation theory argues that if children are deprived of maternal love, security and attachment in early childhood they are likely to develop a criminal personality.

This is because these negative experiences in early childhood lead to mental instability later on in life.

This is a combination of sociological and psychological theories.

Review Which family member’s comment

supports which of the explanations for crime?

Homework Read the article about Dr Shipman and

complete the three tasks on the back of the worksheet.