AC 2.1 - neurological theories of criminality

Question 1

What was the aim of Raine et al (1997 , 2000)?

Answer 1

Identify brain regions specific. to offenders charged with murder/manslaughter , who had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity

Question 1

What was Raine’s brain study?

Answer 1

• Raine et al (1997 , 2000)

Question 2

What was the research method of Raine et al (1997 , 2000)?

Answer 2

Used PET scans to highlight areas of the brain activity in 42 ppts compared to an age & gender-matched control group

Question 3

What were the findings of Raine et al (1997 , 2000)?

Answer 3

• reduced activity for the offender group in prefrontal cortex , corpus callous and limbic system

Question 4

What were the conclusions of Raine et al (1997 , 2000)?

Answer 4

Offenders have reduced brain function compared to control group. Also slower and perhaps unable to make swift decisions to react appropriately in certain situations (frontal lobe)

Question 5

How did Brower & Price (2001) support Raine’s brain study?

Answer 5

correlation between frontal lobe dysfunction and violent crime

Question 6

How did Kandel & Freed (1989) support Raine’s brain study?

Answer 6

• found fontal lobe damage in people whose behaviour was antisocial
• identified tendency to exhibit emotional instability
  
  • failure to consider consequences of their actions
  • inability to adopt their behaviour in response to external influences

Question 7

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 7

Chemical messageners that carry , most and balance signals between neurons , glands , muscles or there neurons around the body and brain

Question 8

What is serotonin linked to?

Answer 8

Mood & impulsive behaviour

Question 9

How did Scherbo & Raine (1993) link serotonin to criminality ?

Answer 9

Conducted a meta-analysis on 29 studies of anti-social adults and children and found low levels of serotonin

Question 10

What is dopamine linked to?

Answer 10

Pleasure and reward

Question 11

How did Buitelaar (2003) link dopamine to criminality ?

Answer 11

Found that juvenile delinquents given dopamine antagonists (which reduce levels of dopamine) showed a decrease in aggressive behaviour

Question 12

How did Couppis (2008) link dopamine to criminality ?

Answer 12

argues that some individual who engage in certain criminal behaviours may experience an increase in dopamine and seek out such experiences