BIOLOGICAL KEY STUDIES

Question 1

Outline the aim of raine’s (1997) study

Answer 1

To investigate patterns of brain activity
in murderers who pleaded not guilty by insanity
compared to a matched sample of non-murderers
using pet scans

Question 2

Outline the sample of raine’s (1997) study

Answer 2

Murders average age 34.3, 39 men 2 women

23 brain damaged, 6 schizophrenics, 3 substance abusers…

Question 3

Outline the matched pairs sample of raine’s (1997) study

Answer 3

Non-murderers average age 31.7 matched by sex, age and schizophrenia

Question 4

Outline the design of raine’s (1997) study

Answer 4

Matched pairs by sex, age, schizophrenia (6 in each group) 41 murderers, 41 controls

Question 5

Outline the variables of raine’s (1997) study

Answer 5

IV; is the participant a murderer who pleaded guilty by insanity or not

DV; the measures of brain activity and structure in PET scans

Question 6

Outline the method of raine’s (1997) study

Answer 6

• Each participant carried out a practice test
• 10 minutes later a FDG trace was injected
• The ppt then completed a continuous performance task and target recognition was recorded
• After 32 minutes, the participant was PET scanned

Question 7

Outline the results of raine’s (1997) study

Answer 7

Murderers had lower glucose metabolism in some prefrontal areas
Murderers had less activity in the corpus callosum
Murderers had different levels of activity in the amygdala (more in right, less in left)

Question 8

Outline the controls of raine’s (1997) study

Answer 8

Six murderers left handed found no effect in results
Head injury differed only in lowered corpus callosum activity
14 non-white murderers compared no different to white

Question 9

Outline the conclusion of raine’s (1997) study

Answer 9

Violence has a biological cause

But cannot conclude they are the only factor of a predisposition of an environmental trigger

Question 10

Outline 3 strength’s of raine’s (1997) study

Answer 10

Supporting evidence found similar results
- Narabyashi (1972), Mark & Ervin (1970) Swantje (2012) found similar results in amygdala

Scientific - PET Scans have no experimenter bias and are value free

Useful in leading to appropriate sentencing of murderers

Controls showed no difference

Matched pairs makes generalisable?

Question 11

Outline 3 weaknesses of raine’s (1997) study

Answer 11

Other factors are unaccounted for
- genetics, hormonal, neurotransmitters, environmental triggers

Reductionist
Deterministic

Matched pairs weren’t perfectly matched

Question 12

Outline the aim of Brendgen’s (2005) study

Answer 12

To examine the genetic and environmental effects
on social and physical aggression
using 6 year old twins

Question 13

Outline the sample of Brendgen’s (2005) study

Answer 13

234 twins of 6 years
From Quebec
84% European decent

Question 14

Outline the variables of Brendgen’s (2005) study

Answer 14

IV; Same class room or different classroom
DV; Levels of social and physical aggression

Question 15

Outline the method of Brendgen’s (2005) study

Answer 15

Children’s physical and social aggression was rated by a teacher and peers
Teachers rated children based on a 3 point scale
Peers were shown photos and asked which three best fit descripitons

Question 16

Outline the results of Brendgen’s (2005) study

Answer 16

82% received at least one nomination as among the top 3 most socially aggressive in the class

62% received at least one nomination for the most physically aggressive in the class

Both found boys more physically aggressive
Teachers found girls more socially aggressive but peers found boys

Question 17

Outline the conclusion of Brendgen’s (2005) study

Answer 17

Environmental conditions interact with genetic factors suggesting aggression and violent interaction are an interplay between the two

Young children are capable of using complex manipulative strategies in addition ti physical means to harm their peers

Question 18

Outline 3 strengths of Brendgen’s (2005) study (TO BE COMPLETED)

Answer 18

First to examine nature vs nurture

Reliability increased by using both teachers and peers

Question 19

Outline 3 weaknesses of Brendgen’s (2005) study

Answer 19

Small sample size
Cannot generalise results beyond 6 year olds
3 is not a large scale
Self report
Can 6 year olds judge aggression?

Question 20

Outline the aim of Kety’s study

Answer 20

To find out if there is a genetic bases for schizophrenia based upon genetic relatives and biological relatives in an adoption study

Question 21

Outline the sample of Kety’s study

Answer 21

34 schizophrenic patients from Copenhagen aged 20-43

33 mentally healthy controls matched by age, gender, age of adoption, and social class of the family

Question 22

Outline the design of Kety’s study

Answer 22

Natural experiment

Independent groups design

Question 23

Outline the variables of Kety’s study

Answer 23

IV; Schizophrenia sufferer or control group

DV; The prevalence of schizophrenia related mental illness among family members

Question 24

Outline the method of Kety’s study

Answer 24

Adoption records used to locate relatives of adoptive children
463 relatives assessed by 4 psychiatrists for schizophrenia in a blind test
The results were then filed into adoptive relative and biological relatives and compared to the ppt
Uncertain diagnosis were removed

Question 25

Outline the results of Kety’s study

Answer 25

8. 7% of bioliogcal relatives displayed schizophrenia in the schizophrenic group
9. 9% had this for the control

Question 26

Outline the conclusion of Kety’s study

Answer 26

There seems to be a genetic component to schizophrenia
Schizophrenic adoptees were more likely to have schizophrenia in their biological families than adoptive
Their biological families were more likely to have schizophrenia than that of the controls

Question 27

Outline 3 strengths of Kety’s study

Answer 27

Can be generalised to Europe? Fairly large sample size

Reliable and replicable procedure

Test-re-test reliability
inter-rater reliability

Schizophrenic children can be guided away from lifestyles that may worsen their schizophrenia

Question 28

Outline 3 weaknesses of Kety’s study

Answer 28

Cant generalise outside of Denmark
Only 20-40 year olds

Diagnostic categories were vague
Subjective

Vague concept of spectrum of schizophrenia
Environmental or personal history not accounted for

Participants not approached (unethical)