Biological Explanations Of Crime Flashcards
(23 cards)
What can brain injury impair that leads to aggressive or antisocial behavior?
Decision-making, impulse control, emotional regulation
Brain injury, such as frontal cortex damage, can significantly affect these cognitive functions.
What r some environmental factors and what role do they play in aggression according to social explanations?
Poverty, family dysfunction, peer influence
These factors can contribute to learned behaviors and coping mechanisms that lead to aggression.
How do biological and social perspectives compare in explaining aggression?
Biological offers a direct cause; social emphasizes upbringing and context
Both perspectives can explain aggression but from different angles.
What may damage or underdevelopment of the amygdala cause?
Emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, aggression
This is due to impaired fear processing and empathy.
What is the association of XYY syndrome with behavior?
Increased impulsivity and minor aggression
XYY syndrome is a genetic disorder but does not directly cause criminal behavior.
Fill in the blank: Both biological and social approaches focus on _______ responses to stimuli.
Emotional
This highlights the importance of both innate and learned behaviors.
What do social explanations focus on regarding criminal behavior?
Education, socioeconomic status, social support
These factors can influence an individual’s propensity towards criminal behavior.
What is the three links to crim of the amygdala
Activity: incr activity in right amygdala lead to increased impulsive violent behaviour
Size: smaller amygdala- higher psychopathy and aggression
Structure: poorly developed/ damaged amygdala can effect fear conditioning processes. Ppl can appear Unemotional and act aggressively
What did Pardini do?
Studied a group of 26 males. Males with lower amygdala volumes 3x more aggressive and violent than 26 yo men with normal sized amygdala less violent.
Evaluate amygdala explanation of aggression
-reductionist (Igonores environmental factors)
-majority of results are on males
-cause and effect
-Downer (monkeys )
-useful for(treatment)
-socially sensitive
-scans—> replicable
What is the mechanism behind traumatic brain injury
Physical damage to the frontal cortex or limbo structures alters impulse control, risk assesment, emotional regulation
What does damage to the Frontal cortex do
Reduced executive function, aggressive outbursts, poor social learning
How does early age tbi impact you
Impaired moral development, social judgement deficits
What are 3 key studies which support/refute TBI explanation and what do they say
Raine- murders show low prefrontal glucose metabolism and low left amygdala activity versus controls
Williams- 60% of 196 prisoners had prior TBI. TBI associated with earlier incarceration and recidivism (likely hood to reoffend)
Kreutzer et al: TBI alone not sufficient; substance abuse mediates link to criminality
One strength of the biological explanation of crime
Supports biological plausibility (supports what we already know abt biology) TBI+substance abuse —> supports diathesis stress interaction (model suggests that neither predisposition Nor stress cause the disorder but the interaction between the two ie someone with TBI + environmental stressors like drugs more likely to commit crime)
Explain the Reductionist argument for biological explanation
Comorbidities (simultaneous presence of 2 or more conditions) ie substance misuse, personality disorders, childhood trauma confound the causality. Call for a more comprehensive approach
What does the amygdala regulate
Emotions, fear conditioning, flight or fight responses
What does hyperactivity in amygdala cause
Impulsive aggression
What does hypoactivity in amygdala cause
Impaired fear conditioning and psychopathy
What is a strength in application for amygdala theory of crime
Predictive bio marker potential, fits with psychopathy research
What is the prevalence of XYY
1/1000
Physical attributes of XYY
Taller than siblings , delayed speech, lower iq (10-15 pts)
What is the prison prevalence in XYY found by Jacob’s
15/1000 vs 1/1000 in general population
