CRIM 1125 Lecture Notes - Y Chromosome, Xyy Syndrome, Karyotype
Document Summary
Study identical (mz) twins raised by different sets of parents, in different environments. Control for social class, child-rearing practices, and diet. Most adoption studies have found relatively low rates of concordance. Sacco & kennedy conclude there is no real scientific basis for the existence of a crime gene. Others claim there is measurable degree of association between criminal behavior of biological parents and their children put up for adoption at birth. Focus on existence of extra y chromosome, or xyy gene. Xx chromosome determines gender in women; xy chromosome determines gender in males. Relatively rare in general population (one in 1,000) More common in prison population (one in 100) Little evidence to suggest that they commit more violent crimes than other males, or that they are necessarily more aggressive. Endomorph fat, jelly, unlikely to be a criminal. Sheldon"s 1949 work argued that mesomorph was most likely to become a criminal, or to engage in violent behavior.
