Applied Criminal Psychology Flashcards
What is a physiological explanation for criminal behaviour?
Brain Dysfunction- Raine- Focused on the pre frontal cortex, low activity in this area of the brain can be indicated by a low resting heart rate. It is involved in planning and regulating of behaviour, it also enables us to focus. If there is low arousal in the prefrontal cortex then these abilities are impaired. Raine investigated the relationship between low activity in the prefrontal cortex and impulsive violent criminal behaviour. PET scans were used to investigate the differences in brain activity in murderers who pleaded NGRI and non-murderers.
Genetics- Brunner- suggested an “association” rather than a “cause” between genes and aggressive behaviour, “Warrior gene” was related to aggressive and violet behaviour. MAOA low activity variant may increase susceptibility to antisocial traits and aggression.
What are the non-physiological explanations for criminal behaviour?
Upbringing-Farrington- Cambridge study in delinquent development. Large study of 411 boys aged 8 when the study began and were interviewed as adolescents and adults too, their criminal record was reported as part of the study. The study was comprehensive and identified a range of risk factors for criminal behaviour; family criminality, daring or risk-taking, low school attainment, poverty and poor parenting
Learning-Sutherland- The differential association hypothesis states the more contact someone has with attitudes favourable to criminal behaviour, and more exposure they have to criminal behaviour in their family and friends, the more criminal behaviour they will commit themselves
Cognitive- Palmer & Hollin- those who commit crime do so because they operate at an immature level of moral reasoning. The Kohlbergian preconventional stage of moral reasoning suggests that behaviour is seen as right and wrong only in terms of the outcome for the individual
What was the aim of Raine et al.’s study?
To find out if there is a difference in the structure of brain activity between people who have committed murder (NGRIs) and non-murderers.
What did Raine et al. hypothesise?
1). Serious violent individuals pleading NGRI have relatively localised brain dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex, angular gyrus, amygdala, hippocampus, corpus callosum and thalamus
2). Seriously violent individuals pleading NGRI show no dysfunction in other brain areas that are not associated with violence
What was the method used by Raine?
Quasi experiment as the IV is naturally occurring (murderers pleading NGRI and non murderers). The DV was whether the participant showed evidence of brain dysfunction in their prefrontal cortex.
What experimental design did Raine et al. use?
Used matched pairs design, matching on age and gender (matched with controls)
Who were the sample for Raine?
What was the procedure for Raine?
What did Raine et al. find?
What conclusions can be made about Raine’s research?
