forensic psychology-biological explanations of offending behaviour

Question 1

describe the historic approach (ativistic form) of offending behaviour

Answer 1

ativistic form refers to facial features which belong to a more primitive era and mark the individual as an evolutionary throwback

Question 2

what physical characteristics did atavistic form be identified by

Answer 2

-a strong prominent jaw
-high cheekbone s
-extra toes, nipples or fingers

Question 3

what did lombroso see criminality due to

Answer 3

he believed that criminal behaviour is a natural tendancy. He believed due to their lack of evolutionary development they would posses a savage and untamed nature which could result in crime as they would be unable to adjust to the demands of a civilsed society

Question 4

which debate did Lombroso recognise

Answer 4

nature vs nurture
he recognised the interaction of nature and nurture snd suggested that atavistic form may interact with a persons social environment and may lead to criminality.

Question 5

what are some positives of the atavistic form

Answer 5

lobroso was the first to introduce a evidence based approach based on empirical evidence. So he paved the way for further research into the field of criminality.

Question 6

what implications does lobrosos research have for the criminal justice system

Answer 6

takes responsibility away from the offender and says its not there fault.
-may lead to sterotyping

Question 7

what are some implications of lombroso for people behaving violently

Answer 7

if someone believes they are violet due to there facial features they may start to behave violently so becomes a self-fuffiling prophecy.

Question 8

what is some evidence against the atavistic form approach considering criminality

Answer 8

goring conducted a comparison between 3000 criminals and 3000 non-criminals and concluded that there was no significant evidence that offenders are a distinct group with unusual facial features.
except for the fact that convicts were slightly smaller and had lower than average IQ (may be due to poverty/poor diet)
this shows lombrosos research lacks reliability

Question 9

why could the ativistic form approach be considered as racist

Answer 9

delisi has branded lombroso as a racist
following his logic it is likely that more african people will be seen as criminals so may lead to scientific justification for discriminatory practices.
socially sensitive
Lowered the trust of psychology as a science

Question 10

what is the biological explanation for offending
(genetics)

Answer 10

-offenders have inherited a gene or a combinantion of genes which predispose them to committing a crime.

Question 11

which genes are responsible for offending behaviour

Answer 11

jari found that abnormalities on the MAOA gene and CDH13 gene leads to criminality
-jari said those with a combination of the genes were 13X more likely to have a history of violent behaviour.
low levels of MAOA gene is associated with low impulse control
-low levels of CDH13 is associated with substance abuse.

Question 12

what are 2 pieces of supporting evidence for the genetic explanation of offending behaviour

Answer 12

-lange
-crowe

Question 13

what did lange find

Answer 13

studies MZ twins and DZ twins where one twin in each pair had served time.
10 MZ twins had a co-twin in prison
only 2 DZ twins had a co-twin in prison

Question 14

what did crowe find

Answer 14

adopted children whose biological mother had a criminal record had a 50% greater risk of having a criminal record by 18
whereas adopted children whose mother didnt have a criminal record only had a 5% risk

Question 15

how is this better than twins studies

Answer 15

-dont have a shared environment
-can investigate genetic alone
-however, many adoptions take place when children are older so they still spend several years with there biological parents.

Question 16

AO3 for genetic explanation

Answer 16

could be diathesis-stress

Question 17

what does the NeUral explanation of offending behaviour state

Answer 17

-offending behaviour is due to dysfunctions in the brain and nervous system
-there may be differences in neurotransmitter levels between criminals and non-criminals

Question 18

what is the role of the frontal cortex

Answer 18

-involved in the regulation of social interaction and emotion and moral behaviour
damage to this cause cause impulsivity, loss of control and immaturity

Question 19

supporting evidence for the role of the pre-frontal cortex in the biological approach

Answer 19

-raine found individuals with APD had 11% reduction in grey matter in the frontal cortex which may be associated with having a lack of empathy for there victims.
-raine also found in brain imaging studies that murders have reduced functioning in the pre frontal cortex which is involved in regulating emotion and controlling moral behaviour

Question 20

what are issues with using brain structure research

Answer 20

-correlational so you cant establish cause and effect.
we dont know if these abnormalities are cause by biological factors or early abuse

Question 21

what is some supporting evidence for genes affecting criminality

Answer 21

brunner found with a family of males who had a history of impulsive agressions and arson and attempted rape and found they had a defective MAOA gene which produced no MAOA.

Question 22

what is the effect of neurotransmitters on criminal behaviour

Answer 22

-seratonin exerts a calming, inhibitory effect so reduces agression
-low levels of seratonin in the prefrontal cortex removes this effect.
-dopamine hyperactivity may enhance this effect as theres an increased levels of dopamine in the pleasure centre which produces a feeling of being rewarded.

Question 23

how could this neurotransmitter theory be beta biased

Answer 23

mann found that when 35 pts were given a seratonin depleteing drug and then asked to complete a questionare assessing agression levels they only found an increases in hostility and agression scores in males

Question 24

what is some research showing that criminal may have there dopamine pathway activated when they commit a crime

Answer 24

coupiss and kennedy found that in mice the dopamine reward pathway become activated in an agressive event.

Question 25

AO3 debates

Answer 25

-biologically deterministic means we may not have to punish people, rehabilitation is pointless if someone is biologically predetermined to commit crime.

-biologically reductionist-may be other factors eg-economic deprivation, frequent exposure to pro-criminal attitudes.