1. WHAT MAKES A CRIMINAL

Question 1

What makes a criminal

Answer 1

Role models (SLT)
Mental illness
Drugs/alcohol
Poor education 
Genetics

Question 2

Background:
Physiological explanations (serotonin)

Answer 2

High= happy and calm 
Low= depression and aggression

Question 3

Aim of Bruner

Answer 3

To use gene-linkage analysis, where a single gene is followed through a family, to provide genetic explanations of crime

Question 4

Sample for Bruner

Answer 4

Large, Dutch family containing men with a history of criminal behaviour

Question 5

Method for Bruner

Answer 5

Case study

Question 6

Procedure for Bruner

Answer 6

Analysed urine samples for 24 hours

Question 7

Results for Bruner

Answer 7

Mutated gene of X chromosome, which leads to a lower production of MAO-A enzyme and the incomplete breakdown of serotonin
Increasing levels of serotonin

Question 8

Conclusions of Bruner

Answer 8

A genetic mutation results in increased levels of serotonin, which is linked to an increase in aggressive behaviour

Question 9

What did Bruner suggest

Answer 9

Too much of any neurotransmitter leads to ‘down regulation’ in the brain and no longer receive the effects of serotonin due to overloading

Question 10

Pros of Bruner

Answer 10

Objective analysis- provides quantitative data which is easy to statistically analyse
Scientific due to control and standardisation
Useful applications by drug treatment

Question 11

Cons of Bruner

Answer 11

Lack of generalisability due to small sample
Reductionist explanation of behaviour
Deterministic

Question 12

Sample for Caspi

Answer 12

500 male students in New Zealand

Question 13

Results for Caspi

Answer 13

Low levels of MAO-A were significantly more common in anti-social people, especially in context with a damaging environmental upbringing

Question 14

Conclusions for Caspi

Answer 14

The interaction between genes and environment determines aggressive behaviour

Question 15

Non-physiological explanations:
Farrington
Sample

Answer 15

411 8 year old London boys

Question 16

Farrington:

Examples of questions asked to teachers and parents of the boys

Answer 16

Do you have a family member in prison
What is your income
What is your punishment for bad behaviour

Question 17

Aim of Farrington

Answer 17

Do problem families produce problem children?

Question 18

Method for Farrington

Answer 18

Longitudinal study- Ps selected were tested between 8 and 46

Questionnaires- e.g. asked about drinking/drug abuse, living circumstances, fighting/offending behaviour

Question 19

Results for Farrington

Answer 19

Worst offenders from large, multi-problem families

E.g. divorced parents, family convictions, poor education, malnutrition

Question 20

Conclusions for Farrington

Answer 20

many environmental factors can predict criminal behaviour

Question 21

Function of pre-frontal cortex

Answer 21

Emotional expression

Question 22

Functions of parietal cortex

Answer 22

Verbal ability + education level

Question 23

Function of amygdala

Answer 23

Processes fear

Question 24

Raine- brain dysfunction

Aim

Answer 24

Analyse levels of brain dysfunction using PET scans of murderers who had pleaded NGRI

Question 25

Raine sample

Answer 25

41 murderers using matched pairs design with 41 non-murderers on age, gender and diagnosis (Sz or not) Drug free for 2 weeks

Question 26

Method for Raine

Answer 26

Quasi experiment

Question 27

Procedure for Raine

Answer 27

Inject harmless radiation material into Ps and carry out a continuous performance task (32 mins) Material binds to glucose in brain as you think the glucose spreads through brain leaving a trace of where the radioactive material has been left behind

Question 28

Results for Raine

Answer 28

Less activity in prefrontal cortex- can't understand implications of situations Less activity in parietal cortex- can't communicate well verbally Less activity in amygdala- do not process fear well

Question 29

Conclusions of Raine

Answer 29

Brain dysfunction is a contributing factor to violent, criminal behaviour

Question 30

Pros of Raine

Answer 30

IV can't be manipulated so results have face validity Produces objective, quantitative data which is easy to statistically analyse Scientific- standardised + control No DC Useful applications

Question 31

Cons of Raine

Answer 31

Reductionist as only biological Lacks historical value Lacks ecological validity

Question 32

Application of biological strategies: | Raine, sample

Answer 32

1795 children in Mauritius

Question 33

Application of biological strategies: | Raine- initial findings + procedure

Answer 33

11 year olds with low resting heart rates are more likely to be anit-social and aggressive than 11 year olds with a higher heart rate Compared 100 low heart rate children with 100 other higher heart rate Drank juice containing omega-3

Question 34

For Raines study what did the experimental group receive

Answer 34

1. nutrition 2. psychical exercise 3. cognitive stimulation- multi-modal curriculum

Question 35

Results from Raine (applications)

Answer 35

Age 11- Experimental group= more focussed, maturer, arousal had increased 17 year olds- Experimental- less cruel to others, less likely to pick fights + bully each other

Question 36

What do findings from Raines study into application of biological strategies suggest

Answer 36

Omega-3 enhances brain structure, dendritic branching, synaptic functioning, boosts cell size Reverses brain dysfunction that causes dysfunctional behaviour