3.3.1 Raine

Question 1

Aim of study

Answer 1

-discover if there’s a difference in the structure of brain activity between murderers and non-murderers
-see if findings of studies linking brain structure to aggression in animals could be generalised to humans

Question 2

Sample of study

Answer 2

-41 subjects of 39 men and 2 women tried in California for murder/manslaughter
-subjects were in custody and medication free
-41 controls matched on age, sex and schizophrenia

Question 3

Procedure of study

Question 4

Findings of study

Question 5

Strengths of study

Answer 5

-High ethics as NGRIs agreed to help their court case or presumptive consent was given, controls gave prior consent, uni of CA approves
-high reliability as PET is a reliable technique used since 1970s and CPT ensured ppts were concentrating hard on the same thing

Question 6

Weaknesses of study

Answer 6

-low generalisability as NGRIs are unusual offenders (murderers who don’t recall incident/too confused to stand trial) so don’ represent typical murderers or citizens
-low internal validity as brain deficits may have occurred after the murder so cannot establish cause and effect