Biosocial Perspective
This perspective argues that criminal behavior results from the interaction of biological and environmental factors.
What is the biosocial perspective?
The debate over whether behavior is influenced more by heredity or the environment is known as this.
What is the nature versus nurture debate?
The term used when twins display matching behavior.
What is concordance?
Higher levels of this hormone have been linked to aggression and violence.
What is testosterone?
A teenager has a family history of violence but grows up with supportive parents, positive peers, and excellent schools. According to biosocial theory, what factor may reduce the impact of genetic risk?
What is a protective environment?
According to biosocial criminologists, risk for criminal behavior is greatest when these two types of factors overlap.
What are biological and environmental factors?
Nature proponents believe criminality is primarily influenced by this.
What is heredity/genetics?
These twins share 100% of their genetic makeup.
Who are identical twins?
Low levels of this neurotransmitter are associated with aggression and habitual violence.
What is serotonin?
An adopted child has a biological parent with a criminal history but is raised in a stable, law-abiding home. Researchers use this situation to separate which two influences?
What are nature and nurture?
Cesare Lombroso believed some individuals were born with a predisposition toward criminality and called them this.
What are born criminals?
Nurture proponents argue criminality is primarily influenced by these factors.
What are social and environmental influences?
These twins showed much higher concordance rates for criminal behavior.
Who are identical twins?
High levels of this neurotransmitter are associated with poor impulse control and delinquency.
What is dopamine?
After a severe head injury, a previously calm person becomes impulsive and aggressive. Which biosocial factor may explain this change?
What is a neurological impairment or brain injury?
These four environmental influences are commonly examined by biosocial criminologists.
What are family life, peer influences, quality of education, and neighborhood crime/violence?
Research generally shows criminal behavior is most strongly influenced by this combination.
What is the interaction of nature and nurture?
This type of study examines children raised by non-biological parents.
What is an adoption study?
Abnormally low levels of this stress hormone have been linked to aggression.
What is cortisol?
A correctional facility improves inmate nutrition and provides vitamin supplements. Violent incidents decrease substantially. This supports the importance of what factor?
What is diet and nutrition?
Research on vitamin supplements found that violent acts among inmates decreased by approximately this percentage.
What is 34%?
Adoption studies found the greatest risk when both of these groups had criminal histories.
Who are the biological and adoptive parents?
Henry Goddard studied this famous family to support hereditary explanations.
Who were the Kallikaks?
Low levels of this neurotransmitter are associated with sensation-seeking and violent behavior.
What is monoamine oxidase (MAO)?
A youth has low cortisol levels, delinquent peers, and lives in a violent neighborhood. According to biosocial criminology, his risk increases because of what concept?
What is the interaction of biological and environmental risk factors?