bio exp of criminal behaviour: brain injury

Question 1

investigates the relationship between offending behaviour and damage to the brain as a result of injury.

Question 2

antisocial and criminal behaviour

Answer 2

anti= causing harassment, alarm or distress to others
eg. drunken behaviour
criminal= act committed in violation off law
eg. murder, stealing

Question 3

what is brain injury caused by?

Answer 3

• accident, illness, tumours
• long term drug use and alcohol

Question 4

incidents resulting in brain damage cause the developing brain to misfire.
if the amygdala and frontal areas are damaged this may lead to someone engaging in criminal behaviour.
the consequences of brain injury are dependent on the area of the brain that has been injured. personality may change, sometimes engage in reckless and aggressive behaviour.
loss of memory and concentration, poor impulse control.

Answer 4

prevalence of brain injury is less than 10%
TBI has been linked to young people, more males, urban areas, alcohol and drug use, deprived socio-economic groups.

Question 5

williams et al 2010

Answer 5

• found that 60% of 196 prisoners investigated had received some sort of TBI due to falling, car accidents and sports. adults with TBI were relatively younger at the time of entry to prison than those without. they suggested these injuries affect social judgment and impulsive behaviour and are also linked with more risk taking behaviour.

Question 6

how would these types of injury contribute to criminal/ antisocial behaviour

Answer 6

• more impulsive without considering consequences
• if the individual misjudges a situation they may respond in an antisocial way

Question 7

conclusion from Williams

Answer 7

there is an association between brain injury and criminality which could be a factor in some offences

Question 8

gender differences

Answer 8

• males more at risk of developing tbi
• sports

Question 9

evidence

Answer 9

williams
this demonstrates that there are organic causes for criminality and provides credibility for a bio exp of crime.
ca= cannot infer cause and effect from association.
60% of offenders found to have brain injuries so not an exp for all crime.

Question 10

application

Answer 10

:) understanding of the effects of brain injury can allow us to predict behaviour and allow for intervention.
if an individuals behaviour is understood to be a consequence of brain injury, this can be used to treat them much more appropriately. care rather than punishment.
CA= this means that we are suggesting that the individual is not responsible for their own criminal behaviour

Question 11

S/W

Answer 11

:( it may be difficult to establish cause and effect as it is difficult to pinpoint specific areas of brain that work in isolation, so a number of different areas of the brain could impact on criminality.
research on brain injury and criminality is also retrospective so behaviour and impact on criminality can not be measured prior to injury.,
CA= however, measures used such as PET scans used to assess brain injury provides objective evidence in the relationship.

:( reductionist
many offenders have a history of substance misuse, may have preexisting personality disorders or exposed to violence as a child. it is therefore are complex process trying to determine which of a multitude of factors may contribute to offending behaviour.

Question 12

alternative

Answer 12

social learning theory suggests that criminal acts are a result of imitating and creating mental reprsemations of criminality.
we imitate same sex role models through a process of attention, retention reproduction and motivation. this is supported by bandora.
this explanation may explain gender differences in criminals better than brain injury because makes may imitate other males who have committed acts and females may be less likely to have other females to imitate.

conclusion:
perhaps the most appropriate explanation of crime depends on individual case.