Neural explanations

Question 1

Prefrontal cortex - raine

Answer 1

conducted many studies of the antisocial personality disorder brain, reporting that there are several dozen brain-imaging studies demonstrating that individuals with antisocial personalities have reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex - the part of the brain that regulates emotional behaviour
-raine also found an 11% reduction in the volume of grey matter in the prefrontal cortex of people with APD compared to controls

Question 2

Neurotransmitters

Answer 2

Neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, may also explain criminal behaviour. For example, Brunner et al (1993) described above demonstrates a link between genes responsible for processing neurotransmitters and violent behaviour. These effects on neurotransmitters may be why these genes increase violent behaviour, suggesting a link between abnormal neurotransmitter activity and criminality.

Question 3

-ethical issues - neural

Answer 3

An implication of Raine’s research is that brain scans in childhood could be used to identify potentially violent criminals of the future. This policy, if enacted, could potentially reduce crime but is socially sensitive because it could lead to discrimination against people with these brain structures.

Question 4

Deterministic- neural

Answer 4

Neural explanations are biologically deterministic because they say that neural factors are what cause criminal behaviour, not free will. However, this raises legal and moral issues: If someone doesn’t choose their criminal actions, it may seem unfair to hold them morally or legally responsible for them. - self fulfilling prophecy