Biological and Non-Biological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour Flashcards
What is an extravert person? What is an introvert person?
An extravert person is someone who is sensation-seeking or thrill-seeking.
An introvert person is someone who are predisposed to avoid situations that would increase their arousal and stress levels.
What is the function of the prefrontal cortex?
- Receives incoming information from the nervous system
- Involved in planning and regulating behaviour
- Enables us to focus our attention
- Self-control (Casey)
What is meant by the ‘Warrior Gene’? What does MAOA stand for?
A gene which supposedly relates to aggressive and violent criminal behaviour.
MAOA = enzyme monoamine oxidase-A
What did Brunner study?
A family which contained a number of males who suffered a syndrome of mental retardation that was associated with aggressive, antisocial and violently criminal behaviour.
What did Brunner conclude about the family?
That the family carried a genetic mutation which stopped production of MAOA, meaning they excess serotonin in the brain.
What do social explanations say about criminal behaviour?
That criminal behaviour is as a result of upbringing and environments that children are exposed to.
Outline Farrington and West’s study.
- Longitudinal
- 411 boys aged 8
- Interviewed boys as boys, adolescents, and then as adults
- All of the boys juvenile and adult criminal records were recorded
How many of the boys in Farringtons study were convicted?
161 of the boys
What were the main findings of Farringtons study?
- Those boys who started criminal careers aged 10-13 almost always were re-convicted
- Over 50% of those with convicted moth also had convictions themselves
- 48% with convicted father also convicted themselves
What are the 5 main social explanations for criminal behaviour?
- Family criminality
- Being daring or risk-taking
- Low school attainment
- Poverty
- Poor parenting
What did Sutherland suggest about criminal behaviour?
That is is down to learning, and that criminality has become an accepted ‘social norm’.
What was Sutherland’s Theory of the Differential Association Hypothesis?
- The more contact someone has with attitudes that are favourable to breaking the law, the more likely they will commit a crime themselves
- If people see people they are close to committing crime, they will be more likely to do it themselves
What does the Kohlbergian preconventional stage of moral reasoning suggest?
That behaviour is seen as right or wrong only in terms of the outcome for the individual.
What is a developmental explanation of criminal behaviour?
Bandura - children at young age may imitate role models negative behaviour.
