behavourist classic evidence- Raine

Question 1

briefly describe the study of ngri murderers by raine

Answer 1

41 murderers 41 control (39 men 2 women)
10 scans of brain
6 cortical regions
9 subcortical regions
pet scan - fdg tracer injected 32 mins before scan during time a stimulating task given to them
general findings: murdered pleading ngri are characterised by reduced brain activities in bilateral prefronal cortex,posterior parietal cortex and corpus callosum. also abnormal assymetry in (left lower than right) in amygdala, thalamus and medial temporal gurus including hippocampus

Question 2

describe methodology of raine briefly

Answer 2

type:quasi- naturally occurring IV
design: matched pairs
IV- murd or no , DV - activity of brain regions
experimental group 41p’s 39m 2f — referred to uni of california for PET scan as evidence for their plea
control group - 41p’s 39m 2f matched pairs (same age, sex and 6 schitzophrenics matched w murds)

Question 3

one positive of the methodology of raine

Answer 3

quasi experiment - allows us to measure something we can’t manipulate (ngri murd)

Question 4

one negative of methodology of raine

Answer 4

PET scan- FDG tracer is radioactive so it’s difficult to replicate on same participant- would become dangerous so lacks external reliability

Question 5

one negative ethics of raine

Answer 5

lack of informed consent - ngri murds not in their right mind enought to make decision whether their scan can be studied

Question 6

one positive ethics of raine

Answer 6

confidentiality - p’s name and identity are hidden to the public

Question 7

one social impilcation of raine negative

Answer 7

it could create stigma for people with dysfunctional brains as we learnt that the bio influences promote violent behaviour. ppl who are not violent may be labelled as violent - not be able to get a job etc

Question 8

one positive social implication of raine

Answer 8

it could improve rehabilitation of criminals not just focus on their social influences as we learn it is biological fromm the study eg safe housing(social) and DBS- deep brain stimulation (biological)

Question 9

overall conclusion of raine study

Answer 9

that it infers that biological influences can encourage violent behaviour HOWEVER this evidence cannot be used as an excuse in court for ngri murderers, more research must be done