biological explanation of crime: brain injury

Question 1

describe the role of the frontal lobe

Answer 1

planning
decision making
problem solving
motor skills
higher order cognitive function

Question 2

describe the role of the temporal lobe

Answer 2

understanding language
memory
facial recognition
speech
hearing

Question 3

describe the role of the parietal lobe

Answer 3

perception
object classification
spelling / numbers
visuospatial processes

Question 4

describe the role of the occipital lobe

Answer 4

vision
visual processing
colour identification

Question 5

describe the role of the cerebellum

Answer 5

gross and fine motor skills
balance
hand eye coordination

Question 6

describe the role of the brain stem

Answer 6

regulates body temperature
swallowing
breathing / heart rate

Question 7

describe the role of the pre frontal cortex

Answer 7

personality expression
inhibits amygdala
planning / decision making

Question 8

what happens if the pre frontal cortex is damaged?

Answer 8

cannot inhibit amygdala’s impulses
poor cognitive skills
cannot plan or anticipate consequence

Question 9

what happens if they hypothalamus is damaged?

Answer 9

unable to regulate appropriate hormone levels in relation to behaviours

Question 10

what happens if the hippocampus is damaged?

Answer 10

problems creating episodic memories
inability to learn from emotional responses or experience
cannot learn when to display aggression
links to recidivism

Question 11

what happens if the amygdala is damaged?

Answer 11

cannot show correct emotional response
lack of emotional perception
reduced volume = blunted emotions, calculated hostile behaviour

Question 12

what causes increased impulsivity in adolescences?

Answer 12

heightened need for basic reward
increased reward seeking behaviour = drug or alcohol use
cannot balance short term rewards and long term consequence as system is not fully developed until mid 20s

Question 13

what is a traumatic brain injury?

Answer 13

a form of acquired brain injury which occurs when sudden trauma damages the brain

Question 14

what is an open TBI?

Answer 14

brain exposed
- eg due to a bullet
can lead to focal damage

Question 15

what is a closed TBI?

Answer 15

insult to brain from external mechanical force without exposing the brain

Question 16

how is the severity of TBIs assessed?

Answer 16

glasgow coma scale
3-15 point scale
13+ =mild
9-12 = moderate
<8 = severe
based on eye opening, verbal/motor response

Question 17

what are the causes of TBIs?

Answer 17

road incidents
falls
suicide
assault
sporting incident

Question 18

what are risk factors of TBIs?

Answer 18

drugs and alcohol - driving
socioeconomic status
urban dwelling
youth

Question 19

what is the link between gender and young people acquiring TBIs?

Answer 19

young = both sexes equally at risk
teens = male 14% female 5%

Question 20

what are the consequences of TBIs?

Answer 20

poor memory
reduced concentration / attention
executive system disorders - poor judgement
decoupling of cognition - stress / depression
decreased emotional awareness
poor impulse control

Question 21

strength for brain injury as an explanation for crime (frontal lobe supporting evidence) PEE

Answer 21

a strength for brain injury as an explanation of crime is the supporting evidence from Brower and Price. they studied articles relating to evidence of frontal lobe dysfunction in violent males and females, finding that anti social / criminal behaviour relates to frontal lobe damage. therefore, this is a strength because the biological explanation suggests that deficits to the frontal lobe prevent inhibition of amygdala and the individual is unable to anticipate consequences or correctly perceive emotions so they act impulsively.

Question 22

what is an application for brain injury being an explanation for crime?

Answer 22

pre screening of young people when they first offend can allow punishment to be reduced as the individual has less responsibility of their crime and allows more awareness of brain injuries in the criminal justice system.

Question 23

weakness of brain injury as an explanation for crime (opposing study) PEE

Answer 23

a weakness of brain injury as an explanation of crime is the study by Krutezer et al who were unable to establish a cause and effect between TBI and violence. for example, only 20% out of 74 patients had been arrested pre injury and only 10% post injury. most arrests were after the use of alcohol or drugs. therefore, this is a weakness because it suggests that crime could be due to a confounding variable, and the lack of cause and effect reduces the internal validity of the findings.