Biological explanations of offending - AQA Psychology

Which of the following physical features was NOT identified by Lombroso as being common among offenders?

• Sloping brow

• High cheekbones

• Small ears

• Pronounced jaw

Lombroso's research in the 1870s was based on which of the following methods?

• Interviewing offenders about their childhood experiences

• Examining the features and measurements of criminals and their skulls

• Observing criminal behavior in real-time

• Analyzing police records for patterns in crime

Why is the difference in concordance rates between male and female twin pairs significant in the study of genetic explanations of offending behaviour?

• It suggests that only males can inherit criminal tendencies

• It raises questions about the role of gender in criminal behaviour

• It proves that females are more likely to commit crimes

• It shows that genetics have no impact on criminal behaviour

What did Brunner et al. (1993) discover in their family study of a large family in the Netherlands?

• All family members had identical criminal records

• The males had a genetic condition later known as "Brunner syndrome," linked to anti-social and criminal behaviour

• Females were more likely to exhibit criminal behaviour than males

• The family had no genetic links to criminal behaviour

According to Crowe (1972), what did the study of adopted children suggest about criminality?

• Children with a biological mother who had a criminal record were more likely to have a criminal record themselves, regardless of their environment.

• Adopted children never develop criminal behavior if raised in a good environment.

• The environment is the only factor influencing criminal behavior.

• Adopted children are less likely to be influenced by their biological parents.

How do biological explanations of offending behavior contribute to the nature versus nurture debate?

• They provide strong support for the nature side by emphasizing genetic influences.

• They completely dismiss the role of genetics.

• They only consider the effects of the environment.

• They focus solely on social learning.

Why do supporters of the nurture argument criticize the biological explanation of offending behaviour?

• Because it ignores the influence of external factors such as parenting, culture, and social learning.

• Because it overemphasizes the role of genetics in intelligence.

• Because it fails to consider the impact of diet and nutrition.

• Because it only focuses on environmental factors.

How does dopamine indirectly link to criminal behaviour, according to the learning material?

• By causing memory loss

• By being associated with addiction and substance abuse, leading to repeated rewarding behaviours

• By increasing intelligence

• By reducing anxiety

Buitelaar (2003) found that juvenile delinquents given dopamine antagonists showed what change in behaviour?

• Increase in aggressive behaviour

• Decrease in aggressive behaviour

• No change in behaviour

• Increase in anxiety

Based on the findings of Raine et al. (1997), which brain regions showed reduced activity in offenders compared to controls?

• Occipital lobe and cerebellum

• Prefrontal cortex and corpus callosum

• Temporal lobe and hippocampus

• Parietal lobe and medulla