Neural Explanation

Question 1

What is the Neural Explanation to explaining offending behaviour?

Answer 1

• May be neural differences in the brain between offender and non-offenders
• research revolves around those with APD (antisocial personality disorder) which is associated with reduced emotional responses and a lack of empathy

Question 2

Who conducted research into the pre-frontal cortex?

Answer 2

• Raine conducted studies into the APD brain and reported individuals with APD have reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex (regulates emotional behaviour)
• Raine et al also found an 11% reduction in the volume of grey matter in the prefrontal cortex of those with APD

Question 3

Who conducted research into Mirror Neurons?

Answer 3

• Offenders with APD can experience empathy but less than others
• Keysers found only when asked to empathise did people with APD’s mirror neuron’s (controls empathetic reaction) activate
• suggests they are not totally without empathy but have a ‘switch’ that can be turned on and off

Question 4

What is one strength of the neural explanation that supports the link between crime and the frontal lobe?

Answer 4

• Kandel and Freed reviewed evidence of frontal lobe damage and antisocial behaviour
• people with damage tended to show impulsive behaviour and emotional instability and inability to learn from their mistakes
• Frontal lobe is associated with planning behaviour

Question 5

What is a limitation of the neural explanation?

Answer 5

• Other factors may contribute to APD
• Farrington studied a group of men who scored high on psychopathy and they had experienced various risk factors during childhood e.g physical neglect
• Suggests relationship between neural differences, APD and offending is complex and there may be intervening variables