2.1 and 3.2 brain injuries and disorders Flashcards
what is a case where brain injuries may be identified to cause criminality
There are some rare cases of brain injuries being identified as the cause of criminality such as the case of railway worker Phineas Gage, whose personality changed after a major brain injury.
what happened to p.gage
Phineas P. Gage, an American railway worker , survived an accident where an iron rod went through his head, damaging his left frontal lobe. The injury dramatically changed his behavior and personality for the next 12 years, leading friends to no longer recognize him.
what have some studies about prisoner shown about there brains
Some studies have shown that prisoners are more likely than non-prisoners to have suffered brain injuries.
what does evidence show about damage to frontal lobe of brain
There is evidence to support the fact that damage to the frontal lobe of the brain can cause aggressive and violent behaviour. This could be linked to physical abuse as a child.
what happened in the case of charles whitman
On August 1, 1966, Charles Whitman infamously became the “Texas Tower Sniper.” He killed his mother and wife with knives, then climbed up the tower at the University of Texas and started randomly shooting at people for 96 minutes. He killed 14 and injured 31 others, before he was gunned down.
what did they find about charles whitmans brain
During his autopsy, doctors found a tumour on his brain. It is indeterminable whether the tumour caused Whitman to act the way he did, but the autopsy report concluded it was certainly a possibility.
what did oxford university’s research show about
a 35-year study in Sweden, Oxford University researchers found that Swedes had a 2.5% chance of becoming violent offenders. However, if they had a head injury on their records, the likelihood rose to 9%. Siblings of those with brain damage also had a 4.5% chance of becoming offenders, 52suggesting a potential link to upbringing.
what was encephalitis lethargic in the 1920s linked to among children
In the 1920s epidemics of encephalitis lethargica among children were linked to: destructiveness, impulsiveness, arson and abnormal behaviour.
whats a biochemical explanation for crime including male sex hormones
Male Males of most species are more aggressive than females; the male sex hormone testosterone has been linked with crimes such as murder and rape.
-testosterone levels peak from puberty to the early 20s and this age correlates with the highest crime rate in males.
whats a biochemical explanation for crime including female sex hormones
Pre-menstrual tension (PMT), post-natal depression and lactation (breastfeeding) have all been accepted as partial defences for women charged with crimes ranging from shoplifting to infanticide, on the grounds that the hormones involved have affected the defendant’s judgement, mood or self control.
what can low suger levels cause
Low blood sugar can lead to aggression and is related to alcohol abuse. Consuming alcohol can cause low blood sugar and heightened aggression, which is connected to violent crimes. S.J. Schoenthaler suggests reducing sugar intake in young offenders to decrease their antisocial behavior.
how can serotonin levels effect criminality
Some studies show that low levels of serotonin are linked to higher aggression.
Serotonin regulates signals between neurons and is said to control a person’s mood.
Scerbo and Raine conducted a meta-analysis on 29 studies into anti-social adults and children and found low levels of serotonin in all of them.
what does alchahol and other substance abuse lead to
Substance Abuse
Saunders calculated that alcohol plays a significant role in about 1000 arrests a day.
In the USA, Flanzer estimated that 80% of family violence cases involved alcohol. Cocaine and ‘crack’ are also linked with violence.
Cannabis, Heroin & MDMA tend to reduce aggression.
what can steriods cause
People who take large amounts of steroids can become extremely violent (known as ‘roid rage’). Steroids, often linked to muscle growth, also increase testosterone
what diet can lead to criminality
Other substances that we ingest have also been linked with anti-social or criminal behavior. These include: food additives and diet, allergens, vitamin deficiencies and lead pollution. They affect various biochemical processes in the body and this can in turn affect behaviour. For example:
* Both lead and the synthetic food colouring tartrazine have been linked with hyperactivity.
