Biological Positivism has both its strengths and weaknesses, it changed the way of criminological ideas and opened up new theories that were based on scientific facts rather than philosophical ideas like in Classicism.
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For this, researchers studied siblings that had been separated from an early age and had later gone on to commit crimes. They then compared the convictions of their biological parents and their adoptive parents to see if there was any pattern. If the siblings showed more resemblance to their biological parents in terms of convictions and criminal history, then it could prove that there is a more of a genetic influence towards someone committing a crime. A study done by Hutchings and Meddick (1975) found that if the adoptee's biological father had a conviction and adoptive father had not, then the adoptee had a 20% chance of getting a criminal conviction whereas if the biological father didn't have a conviction but the adoptive father did, then the chance of the adoptee obtaining a conviction decreased to a 13.5% chance (Brill, 1986). This study seems to support the Twin studies on the nature debate side, with the child being brought up in a different environment from it's biological parents, it is easier to separate the genetic and environmental factors in this study. However, the ages of when the siblings were taken away from their biological parents should be taken into account. If a child had been taken away a couple years on in their life, they could have already been exposed to some social influences that could affect their behaviour later on in …show more content…
08 Nov 2013 <http://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp?id=122773>.
Anderson, G (2007) Biological Influences on Criminal Behavior. Boca Raton: CSC Press
Barlow, H & Kauzlarich, D (2010) Explaining Crime, A Primer in Criminological Theory. Plymouth: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc
Brill, E (1986) Explaining Criminal Behaviour.
Brown, S & Esbensen, F & Geis, G,. Criminology, Explaining Crime and it's Context. 7th ed.
Genetic and environmental influences on antisocial behavior: A meta-analysis of twin and adoption studies.
Rhee, Soo Hyun; Waldman, Irwin D. Psychological Bulletin, Vol 128(3), May 2002, 490-529.
Gibson, M & Rafter, N (2006) Criminal Man.
Hansen, M., ABA Journal. Jul97, Vol. 83 Issue 7, p20. 2p. 1 Color Photograph, 1 Chart.
Newburn, T (2007) Criminology. Cullompton: Willan Publishing.
Shoham, S (2010) International Handbook of Criminology. USA: CSC Press
Walklate, S (2007) Understanding Criminology. 3rd ed. Berkshire: Open University Press
Plomin, R & Asbury, K. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, July 2005; vol. 600,
For this, researchers studied siblings that had been separated from an early age and had later gone on to commit crimes. They then compared the convictions of their biological parents and their adoptive parents to see if there was any pattern. If the siblings showed more resemblance to their biological parents in terms of convictions and criminal history, then it could prove that there is a more of a genetic influence towards someone committing a crime. A study done by Hutchings and Meddick (1975) found that if the adoptee's biological father had a conviction and adoptive father had not, then the adoptee had a 20% chance of getting a criminal conviction whereas if the biological father didn't have a conviction but the adoptive father did, then the chance of the adoptee obtaining a conviction decreased to a 13.5% chance (Brill, 1986). This study seems to support the Twin studies on the nature debate side, with the child being brought up in a different environment from it's biological parents, it is easier to separate the genetic and environmental factors in this study. However, the ages of when the siblings were taken away from their biological parents should be taken into account. If a child had been taken away a couple years on in their life, they could have already been exposed to some social influences that could affect their behaviour later on in …show more content…
08 Nov 2013 <http://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp?id=122773>.
Anderson, G (2007) Biological Influences on Criminal Behavior. Boca Raton: CSC Press
Barlow, H & Kauzlarich, D (2010) Explaining Crime, A Primer in Criminological Theory. Plymouth: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc
Brill, E (1986) Explaining Criminal Behaviour.
Brown, S & Esbensen, F & Geis, G,. Criminology, Explaining Crime and it's Context. 7th ed.
Genetic and environmental influences on antisocial behavior: A meta-analysis of twin and adoption studies.
Rhee, Soo Hyun; Waldman, Irwin D. Psychological Bulletin, Vol 128(3), May 2002, 490-529.
Gibson, M & Rafter, N (2006) Criminal Man.
Hansen, M., ABA Journal. Jul97, Vol. 83 Issue 7, p20. 2p. 1 Color Photograph, 1 Chart.
Newburn, T (2007) Criminology. Cullompton: Willan Publishing.
Shoham, S (2010) International Handbook of Criminology. USA: CSC Press
Walklate, S (2007) Understanding Criminology. 3rd ed. Berkshire: Open University Press
Plomin, R & Asbury, K. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, July 2005; vol. 600,