Biological explanations(genetic and neural) to offending behaviour Flashcards
Briefly explain the genetic explanation
Potential offenders inherit genes that predispose/lead them to crime
Evidence for this comes from twin studies/adoption studies
Explain Karl Christiansens twin study
3500 twin pairs in Denmark studied
Found concordance rate of 35% for MZ/13% for DZ twins for offending behaviour
Concluded that behaviour/genes that predispose people to crimes is inherited
What are candidate genes and explain Tihonen’s genetic analysis
Genetic analysis of 800 offenders revealed genes associated with crimes
Candidate genes - Specific genes associated with specific behaviour e.g. crime
What are the candidate genes associated with crimes
MAOA - Regulates serotonin/dopamine - Linked to impulsive aggressive behaviour
CDH13 - Linked to substance abuse and attention deficit disorder
What is the diathesis stress model(Used for A03)
Genetic innate factors and environmental factors both contribute to offending behaviour
What is the diathesis stress model(Used for A03)
Genetic innate factors and environmental factors both contribute to offending behaviour
What is the neural explanation to offending behaviour
Dysfunctions of the brain/nervous system lead to offending behaviour
Brain structure is different in criminals
What is APD
Antisocial personality disorder
Evidence supporting neural explanation shows criminals often diagnosed with APD
APD characteristics:
Reduced emotional responses
Lack of empathy
How is the prefrontal cortex involved with APD
Adrian Raine conducted studies on APD brains
Used brain scans to show reduced activity in prefrontal cortex due to APD
Prefrontal cortex responsible for emotional behaviour
Found 11% reduction of grey matter in APD brain prefrontal cortex compared to control group
What are mirror neurons
Neurons that activate when performing activity/watching someone else perform activity
Allows people to feel empathy/emotion
Switched on by default
Explain Christian Keysers findings related to mirror neurons
Criminals mirror neurons only activated when asked to show empathy
Suggests people with APD can turn on mirror neurons and choose when to show emotion e.g. empathy
Evaluate the biological explanation to offending behaviour
Reduces crimes to genetic/neural factors - factors e.g. poverty can run in families
Research to support frontal lobe link to crimes - Kandal and Freed - impulsive behaviour, emotional instability etc linked to frontal lobe damage
Lange’s research has methodological issues e.g. Small Sample, confounding variables, Twins are small percent of population
Biologically deterministic
