17.1.8

(2027 Exams) Biological Explanations 1

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Genetic Explanation of Criminality: Adoption Studies

There are three main pieces of evidence for the genetic explanation of criminality: adoption studies (such as Mednick et al, 1984), genetic influences on aggression and extra Y chromosome studies.

Adoption studies

Adoption studies

  • Adoption studies examine concordance rates of criminal activity.
  • Concordance means that if one person shows criminal behaviour, what is the likelihood that another person will.
  • In the case of adoption studies, concordance is measured between the adopted child and:
    • 1) adoptive parents
    • 2) genetic/biological parents.
Concordance rates

Concordance rates

  • These studies have found that there is a higher concordance rate of criminal activity between the adopted children and their biological parents.
  • This demonstrates strong evidence of the role of genetics in criminality.
    • An example of an adoption study would by Mednick et al. (1984) who studied criminal behaviour in adopted children.
Method:

Method:

  • 14 427 Danish adopted children were analysed according to concordance.
  • The concordance rates of criminality were compared between:
    • The adopted children and their adopted parents.
    • The adopted children and their biological parents.
Results:

Results:

  • 13.5% of adopted children had a criminal conviction with biological or adoptive parents with no criminal convictions.
  • 14.7% of adopted children had a conviction with at least one adoptive parent who had a criminal conviction.
  • 20% of adopted children had a conviction with at least one biological parent who had a criminal conviction.
  • 24.5% of adopted children had a conviction rate with at least one biological parent and one adoptive parent with a criminal conviction.
Conclusion:

Conclusion:

  • There is a genetic link of criminality.
  • However, overall, the concordance rates are low, therefore, there is likely to be other factors that lead to criminality.
Evaluation: Strengths

Evaluation: Strengths

  • Adoption studies are important in the nature vs. nurture debate as they can separate out the genetic and environmental influences. Therefore, this is a powerful study.
  • The sample size was very large, increasing the validity of the results.
Evaluation: Weaknesses

Evaluation: Weaknesses

  • However the study only looked at criminal convictions, not at crimes committed. This is a limitation of the study.
  • In other words, people could have committed crimes and not been convicted. This could cause different results.
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