Biological explanation to offending: Neural

Question 1

How can the prefrontal cortex lead to offending behaviours?

Answer 1

Regulates emotional behaviour

Reduction in prefrontal cortex grey matter

Question 2

Describe research by Raine

Answer 2

11% of reduction of grey matter in the prefrontal cortex of people with APD compared to controls
(PET scan)

Question 3

What is APD

Answer 3

Antisocial personality disorder

Associated with lack of empathy, reduce emotional response

Diagnosed in many offenders

Question 4

What did research by Kiehl find

Answer 4

Criminals have a smaller amygdalae (Associated with regulation of behaviour, motivations, emotions).

Question 5

How does noradrenaline relate to offending behaviour

Answer 5

High levels, increased levels of violence and aggression

Question 6

Strengths of neural explanations

Answer 6

• Research to support
• Scientific way of explaining offending behaviour (EG: PET scans)

Question 7

Weaknesses of neural explanations

Answer 7

• Biologically deterministic
• Link between neural differences and APD is too complex. Farrington et al found that people with APD experienced things such as being raised by convicts, negligence. These factors + trauma could cause APD