Question 1

The term "atavism" refers to:

Accepted Answer

Atavism refers to the reappearance of a trait from an ancestor that had disappeared in previous generations, often giving the appearance of a more primitive form.

Question 2

Goring's early study comparing English inmates with samples of nonoffenders led him to conclude that:

Accepted Answer

Goring's study concluded that there was no significant difference in physical characteristics between criminals and non-criminals, but he did suggest that criminals were biologically inferior in terms of intelligence and other hereditary traits.

Question 3

In interpreting the correlation between IQ scores and delinquency, Hirschi and Hindelang take the position that:

Accepted Answer

Hirschi and Hindelang argue that IQ affects delinquency indirectly by influencing school performance, which in turn affects delinquent behavior.

Question 4

Mednick, Ellis, and others suggest that persons who become offenders are more difficult to socialize than nonoffenders because:

Accepted Answer

Mednick, Ellis, and others suggest that offenders have autonomic nervous systems that are slow in responding to stimuli, making them more difficult to socialize. This slower response can result in less fear of punishment and reduced ability to learn from negative experiences.

Question 5

Comparisons of the concordance rates of identical and fraternal twins suggest that:

Accepted Answer

Concordance rates in identical twins (who share more genetic material) being higher than in fraternal twins suggest a potential biological influence on behavior, including criminality.

Question 6

Scientifically valid and clear-cut evidence in support of a theory of inherited criminal behavior comes from:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Scientifically valid and clear-cut evidence in support...

Question 7

The neuropsychological model proposed by Moffitt and her associates is intended to explain the behavior of a limited subset of offenders. These offenders are:

Accepted Answer

The neuropsychological model by Moffitt focuses on "life-course-persistent" offenders, typically males, who start antisocial behavior early and continue into adulthood.

Question 8

The functioning of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is thought by some to play a role in crime. According to Mednick, Brennan, and others, the functioning of the ANS is linked to crime in which of the following ways?

Accepted Answer

Slow ANS responsiveness is associated with a lesser ability to learn from reinforcement and punishment, which can contribute to criminal behavior.

Question 9

Twin studies have suggested that there may be a link between heredity and crime. However, recent research by Carey and by Rowe and Gulley indicates that much of the effect previously attributed to heredity may be due to:

Accepted Answer

Recent research suggests that sibling interaction and imitation may account for the effects previously attributed to heredity in twin studies related to crime.

Question 10

Mednick, Ellis, and other biological theorists who propose genetic susceptibility to criminal behavior hypothesize that offenders tend to have:

Accepted Answer

Biological theorists like Mednick and Ellis suggest that individuals with a genetic susceptibility to criminal behavior may have autonomic nervous systems that are slower in responding to stimuli, which can affect their ability to learn from punishment and thus influence their behavior.

Question 11

In presenting his theory and research on criminal man, the anthropologist E. A. Hooton:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In presenting his theory and research on...

Question 12

The policy implications of various biological theories of criminal behavior have included:

Accepted Answer

All of the listed policy implications have been proposed or implemented at various times in history.

Question 13

According to Lombroso, how many "anomalies" does a female have to have in order to be classified as a born criminal?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Lombroso, how many "anomalies" does...

Question 14

Which of the following was not one Burt and Simons critiques of twin and adoption studies?

Accepted Answer

Burt and Simons did not criticize twin and adoption studies for having small confidence intervals for heritability estimates.

Question 15

How have "twin" and "adoption" studies been conducted in the effort to detect genetic factors in crime? What are some of the problems associated with these approaches? What do the findings of these studies seem to indicate about the role of heredity in crime?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How have "twin" and "adoption" studies been...

Question 16

Trace the history of biological theories of crime causation from the late 19th century to the present. What progress has been made over this time period?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Trace the history of biological theories of...

Question 17

Explain how the biosocial models of Mednick, Eysenck, and Ellis differ from purely biological explanations of criminal behavior.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain how the biosocial models of Mednick,...

Question 18

Compare and contrast the earlier biological theories of crime causation proposed by Lombroso and others with contemporary biological theories proposed by Mednick, Ellis, and others. What distinguishes the more recent biological theories from the earlier ones in terms of theory and policy implications? How much empirical support did the earlier theories have, and what level of empirical support do the modern biological theories have?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the earlier biological theories...

Question 19

Assume that you are a fellow at the Ellis Institute for Genetics, Evolution, and Crime. You have been approached by a staff member for Senator Akers (a well-known and influential religious conservative) and asked to help draft a crime control policy statement based on Ellis's theories of suboptimal ANS arousal and r/K evolutionary selection strategies that the senator can use as part of his platform in his upcoming reelection bid. The only stipulation made is that the policy statement must not violate or go counter to the senator's long-standing and publicly professed Christian beliefs that every person has worth in God's eyes, that every person is individually responsible for his or her acts but is redeemable, and that high ethical standards should guide the actions of individuals and government alike. What would be your response to the senator's request? Would you accept? If so, what would be the chief features of your policy proposal? If not, what reasons would you give the senator's staff member for declining?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Assume that you are a fellow at...

Question 20

What approaches to genetic susceptibility are defined by the terms "behavioral genetics" and "evolutionary psychology"? Explain the similarities and differences between these two approaches. Identify at least one proponent and example of each approach.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What approaches to genetic susceptibility are defined...

Quiz 3: Biological and Biosocial Theories