1. Access Psychology Hannah Butler hbutler@stvincents.co.uk

2. Discuss on your tables...... CRIME IS A RESULT OF EVIL PEOPLE CRIME IS PREVENTABLE CRIME ALWAYS HAS A PERPETRATOR AND A VICTIM CRIME IS PERFORMING IMMORAL ACTIONS CRIME IS SOMETHING OTHER PEOPLE DO CRIME IS A RESULT OF THE UNFAIR SOCIETY THAT WE LIVE IN CRIME IS DEPENDANT ON YOUR VIEWPOINT, I.E. THERE IS NO ABSOLUTE DEFINITION

3. The Biological approach to Psychology

4. The biological perspective is a way of looking at psychological topics by studying the physical basis for animal and human behaviour. It is one of the major perspectives in psychology, and involves such things as studying the immune system, nervous system and genetics. This field of psychology is often referred to as biopsychology or physiological psychology.

5. The biological perspective is relevant to the study of psychology in three ways: 1. Comparative method: different species of animal can be studied and compared. This can help in the search to understand human behaviour.

6. 2. Physiology: how the nervous system and hormones work, how the brain functions, how changes in structure and/or function can affect behaviour. For example, we could ask how prescribed drugs to treat depression affect behaviour through their interaction with the nervous system.

7. 3. Investigation of inheritance: what an animal inherits from its parents, mechanisms of inheritance (genetics). For example, we might want to know whether high intelligence is inherited from one generation to the next. Each of these biological aspects, the comparative, the physiological and the genetic, can help explain human behaviour.

8. Basic assumptions Psychology should be seen as a science, to be studied in a scientific manner (usually in a laboratory). Behaviour can be largely explained in terms of biology (e.g. genes/hormones). Human genes have evolved over millions of years to adapt behaviour to the environment. Therefore, most behaviour will have an adaptive / evolutionary purpose.

9. Biological explanations of crime

10. The common assumptions of the biological theories of crime are that physical attributes can lead an individual to criminal activities. Generally, the thought was that certain physical attributes were passed down from parent to child, making the child more at risk of committing crimes.

11. What does a criminal look like? Draw a picture of what you think a typical criminal looks like

12. Cesare Lombroso-the father of criminology Cesare Lombroso (1835-1909) was an Italian criminologist and physician, who founded the Italian School of Positivist Criminology. He rejected the classical school of criminology. Came up with a theory which stated that criminality was inherited, and that someone "born criminal" could be identified by physical defects, which confirmed a criminal as savage, or atavistic (throwback to an earlier stage of human evolution)

13. In 1876, Lombroso suggested that 40% of criminals were ‘born criminals’ and it was possible to identify them from their skull and facial features. He collected the physical measurements from criminals and non- criminals and conducted post-mortem examinations, concluding that criminals differed from non-criminals in their appearance. Through his work, he claimed that criminals had the following physical characteristics:

14. a head that was different in size and shape to the heads of those of the same race asymmetry of the face eye defects large jaws and cheekbones ears that were either very small or that stood out from the head like the ears of a chimpanzee twisted, upturned or flattened noses in thieves aquiline or beak-like noses in murderers swollen nostrils and a pointed tip to the nose fleshy, swollen and petruding lips cheeks that look like they have pouches in them, like a hamster

15. a cleft palate a chin that was either receding, excessively long or short and flat (as in apes) abnormal teeth lots of wrinkles hair that was more like the hair of the opposite sex He also suggested that criminals had excessively long arms. These features he concluded suggested that criminals were reverting to a primitive type of man with physical features similar to those of apes. The male with five or more of these physical anomalies is marked as a born criminal

17. Lombroso also maintained that criminals had less sensibility to pain and touch; more acute sight; a lack of moral sense, including an absence of remorse; more vanity, impulsiveness, vindictiveness, and cruelty; and other manifestations, such as the excessive use of tattooing. Most of the “born criminals” had them Obscene nature of their depictions and messages Tattoos stood as evidence of both insensitive to physical pain and immorality

18. Lombrosso and the female offender Lombrosso also tried to identify characteristics of female criminals, but concluded that female criminals were rare and suggested that they had not ‘degenerated’ in the same way as men because they had ‘evolved less than men due to the inactive nature of their lives’. Women are less evolved: naturally vengeful and jealous, their moral sensibilities are deficient, less sensitive to pain than men

19. Natural selection is the reason for existence of a greater number of male than female born criminals Men are less likely to breed with physically deformed women Women have less chances to transmit their genes Degenerative traits in women would be less likely than such traits in men to survive over time

20. A review of the work of Cesare Lombroso

21. Evaluation of Lombroso Theory overlooks the bright and handsome criminals Theory ignores those who are ugly and live lives of productive and cooperative labor Theory does not look at the variations over time in crime rates. Since genes change very slowly, there should be a steady rate of crime over the centuries. That is not the case. Crime rates vary dramatically.

22. He was studying the very poor - people whose physical development had been affected by poverty, poor nutrition Not everyone who breaks the law ends up in prison This type of theorising neglects the idea that there is a "grey area" of criminality - people who commit crimes but who are not caught and therefore not imprisoned.

23. William Sheldon (1949) "The Varieties of Delinquent Youth" There is a strong correlation between body morphology (shape) and criminal behaviour in teenagers

24. William Herbert Sheldon (1898 - 1977) An American psychologist. He created the field of somatotype and constitutional psychology that tried to correlate body types with behaviour, intelligence and soci al hierarchy. He classified people into three categories: Endomorphic Mesomorphic Ectomorphic

25. Endomorphic body type The Endomorph is physically quite 'round', and is typified as the 'barrel of fun‘ person. They tend to have: Wide hips and narrow shoulders, which makes them rather pear-shaped. Quite a lot of fat spread across the body, including upper arms and thighs. They have quite slim ankles and wrists, which only serves to accentuate the fatter other parts.

26. Endomorphic body type

27. Psychologically, the endomorph is: Sociable Fun-loving Love of food Tolerant Even-tempered Good humoured Relaxed With a love of comfort And has a need for affection

28. Ectomorphic boy type The Ectomorph is an opposite of the Endomorph. Physically, they tend to have: Narrow shoulders and hips A thin and narrow face, with a high forehead A thin and narrow chest and abdomen Thin legs and arms Very little body fat Even though they may eat as much as the endomorph, they never seem to put on weight

29. Ectomorphic body type

30. Psychologically they are: Self-conscious Private Introverted Inhibited Socially anxious Artistic Intense Emotionally restrained Thoughtful

31. Mesomorphic body type The mesomorph is somewhere between the round endomorph and the thin ectomorph. Physically, they have the more 'desirable' body, and have: Large head, broad shoulders and narrow waist (wedge-shaped). Muscular body, with strong forearms and thighs Very little body fat They are generally considered as 'well- proportioned'.

32. Mesomorphic body type

33. Psychologically, they are: Adventurous Courageous Indifferent to what others think or want Assertive/bold Zest for physical activity Competitive With a desire for power/dominance And a love of risk/chance

34. Sheldon compiled his study by comparing 400 boys in a residential rehabilitation home. He gathered extensive family backgrounds on each and also monitored their growth for 8 years. He found that the Mesomorphs pose the greatest threat of becoming delinquents and later criminals.

35. Convicts were most likely to mesomorphic, and least likely to be ectomorphic

36. A later study compiled in the 1960s backed up Sheldon’s theory. Herrnstein and Wilson found 60% of the delinquent population to be mesomorphs and 30% endomorphs. In a similar vein others have studied physical attractiveness and crime (Corsini) and found a correlation. However, they could not detect whether physical unattractiveness played a part in the initial choice to become deviant or whether the juvenile court system singled out unattractive children from others by adjudicating them delinquent more frequently.

37. Sheldon's theories enjoyed a vogue as the "pop-psych flavour of the month" through the 1950s. Modern scientists, however, generally with occasional exceptions) dismiss his claims as outdated, if not outright ”quackery”

38. Hans Eysenck (1916-1997)- personality and crime Born in Germany-hated the Nazis. Moved to UK in the 1930s. Most well known for his theory on personality and crime. His theory proposed that criminal behaviour is the result of an interaction between certain environmental conditions and features of the nervous system.

39. Type theory Eysenck believed that there are different personality types. type theoryHis theory is therefore described as a type theory. For each personality type there are associated traits.

40. Eysenck believed that personality is defined along 3 strands: Neuroticism (N) Psychoticism(P) Extraversion (E)

41. Extroverts Open and often talkative Compare their own opinions with the opinions of others Interested in new people Say what they think Like action and initiative Easily make new friends or adapt to a new group Easily break unwanted relations

42. Are interested in their own thoughts and feelings Need to have own territory Often appear reserved, quiet and thoughtful Usually do not have many friends Have difficulties in making new contacts Like concentration and quiet Do not like the unexpected INTROVERTS

43. Neurotics Nature full of anxiety Worry a lot Feel guilty often Highly emotional Rapid response to fear May have low self esteem May be tense or irritable

44. Extroversion Eysenck’s studies showed that the typical extravert tends to lose his/her temper quickly, becoming aggressive and unreliable. He then believed that extraverts need a higher level of excitement and stimulation, known as “arousal theory.”

45. The need for high amounts of stimulation then lead to more likely encounters with the law. “They enjoy pranks and practical jokes and find challenge in opportunities to do the unconventional, or even to engage in antisocial behaviour” The physiological bases of extraversion are related to the Reticular Activating System (RAS). The RAS arouses the cerebral cortex and keeps it alert to incoming stimuli.

46. Cerebral cortex The Cerebral cortex is the outermost sheet of neural tissue of the cerebrum of the brain. It plays a key role in memory, attention, perceptual awareness thought, language, and consciousness.

47. Neuroticism The base of neuroticism is frequently linked to the emotional area of the brain-this dimension reacts to how one successfully deals with stressful events. Whereas the extraversion centre of the brain is linked to the central nervous system, neuroticism relates to the autonomic nervous system. Neurotic individuals are believed to achieve an emotional level quickly and then remain at that level for a longer amount of time than non ‐ neurotic individuals.

48. Autonomic nervous system Autonomic nervous system (ANS) is the part of our main nervous system that acts as a control system, functioning largely below the level of consciousness, and controls visceral (internal) functions. The ANS effects heart-rate, digestion, respiratory rate, salivation, perspiration, pupil dilation, urination and sexual arousal.

49. Psychotism Eysenck used the word psychoticism as a word to identify behaviours that are not explained by neuroticism and extraversion. Eysenck used his research to categorize individuals who exhibited cold, cruel, unemotional, and insensitive characteristics, not the clinical definition of psychotic which means out of touch with reality.

50. According to Eysenck Extroverts are under aroused, Need stimulation Less likely to be effected by negative outcomes of their behaviour i.e. punishment. More likely to shrug shoulders at disapproval Introverts take punishment to heart.

51. According to Eysenck Extroverts enjoy the ‘thrill’ of a crime as will take more risks. Joyriding a good example.

52. To summarise.... To sum up the Eysenck’s Theory of Criminality, offenders as a whole will demonstrate low levels of extraversion (cortical arousal), high levels of neuroticism (autonomic arousal), and are more tough ‐ minded in the psychotic sense

53. Homework On moodle.... Modern biological explanation of criminality news article