Biological explanations: Genetic + Neural Explanations

Question 1

What do genetic explanations suggest about crime?

(inh. gene - predis. crim. behav.)

Answer 1

Individuals inherit genes that predispose them to criminal behaviour

Question 2

What are candidate genes?

Answer 2

Candidate genes are genes associated with criminal behaviour

Question 3

What genes are linked to offending behaviour? (M gene + C gene)

Answer 3

The MAOA gene and CDH13 gene

Question 4

What is the MAOA gene?

(cod. enz. - brkdwn. monoa. neurt. - brn)

Answer 4

Gene which codes for an enzyme which breaks down monoamine neurotransmitters in the brain

Question 5

Which variant of the MAOA gene is linked to offending behaviour?

Answer 5

The MAOA - L (low activity) variant

Question 6

Which neurotransmitters are affected by the MAOA gene?

Answer 6

Serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine

Question 7

How does the MAOA - L variant increase the risk of offending?

(prod. lss. enz. - lss. monoa. neurt. brkdwn. - inc. lvls. brn. - inc. imp./agg. )

Answer 7

Produces less MAOA enzyme, which means less monoamine neurotransmitters are broken down, increasing their levels in the brain, increasing impulsivity and aggression

Question 8

What does the CDH13 gene in the human brain?

Answer 8

Regulate the transmission of nerve impulses

Question 9

What do neural explanations suggest about criminal behaviour?

(diff. brn. struc. )

Answer 9

Criminals may have differences in brain structure and function compared to non - criminals

Question 10

What condition is commonly studied in relation to criminal behaviour, with the neural explanation?

(lnkd. rdcd. emtnl. rspns. + lck. empthy.)

Answer 10

Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD), which is linked to reduced emotional responses and lack of empathy

Question 11

What brain differences are found in people with APD?

(s/f in pref. crtx.)

Answer 11

Structural and functional differences in the prefrontal cortex

Question 12

What did Raine’s study find about the APD brain?

(ppl w/ APD - 11% lss gry. mtr. - prectx.)

Answer 12

People with APD had 11% less grey matter in the prefrontal cortex compared to non criminals

Question 13

How does reduced grey matter affect behaviour?

(hrdr. reg. imp + cont. behv.)

Answer 13

Makes it harder to regulate impulses and control behaviour

Question 14

How do serotonin levels affect people with APD?

(lw. s lvls - pref. ctrx. - diff. reg imp. + agg.)

Answer 14

Low levels of serotonin in the prefrontal cortex cause difficulty regulating impulses and aggression

Question 15

What did Crowe’s adoption study find?

(50% - adpt. chldrn - prnt. w/ crim. rcd. > offend thn without, big infl. = gen. fctrs.)

Answer 15

Crowe’s adoption studies found that 50% of adopted children with a parent, who had a criminal record were more likely to offend than adoptees who had parents without criminal records. Suggesting that the biggest influence on criminality is genetic factors

Question 16

1. What is a limitation of the genetic and neural explanations?

(psych arg. - TS - crim. - pr. cont. + judg. rlted. zyg. - bse app > DNA, lck val., +TS - smll/unus. smple. size - lss. rep. ent. pop. - red. pop. val.)

Answer 16

Psychologists have argued twin studies of criminality were poorly controlled and judgements related to zygosity were based on appearance rather than DNA testing. As a result, these studies have been seen as lacking validity. Additionally twin studies tend to have small and unusual sample sizes, making them less representative of the entire population - reducing population validity

Question 17

2. What is a limitation of the genetic and neural explanations?

(assump. - g+e infl. - sep adptns. stds, frthr. cmplctd. - fct. mny. chldrn. exp. lte. adptn. - mnng. mch. infcy. + chldhd. spnt. w/ bio p, smlrly. adptes. mntn. cont. w/ bio p aftr. adopt, fctrs. mke. difclt. ases. env./gen. impct. bio. p hve, thfre. conc. drwn. - inapplcble. - diff. cntxts. - shwng. lck. ext. val.)

Answer 17

Another limitation is the assumptions that genetic and environmental influences are separate in adoptions studies. This is further complicated by the fact many children experience late adoption, meaning much of their infancy and childhood is spent with their biological parents. Similarly, many adoptees maintain regular contact with their biological parents following adoption. These factors make it difficult to assess the environmental/genetic impact biological parents may have. Therefore any conclusions drawn may be inapplicable to different contexts, showing a lack of external validity

Question 18

3. What is a limitation of the genetic and neural explanations?

(bio exp. - off. beh. usng. cand. g - rses. eth. iss, If bhvr. sen. gen. detr. - chllngs idea - off. full pers/mrl. rspnblty. actns, legl. sys. - bsd. on asmptn. ppl. hve. frewil. + only. extrm. cses. - indvd. cnsdrd. /rspnblty crms, If crmnl. bhvr. atrbtd. gns. - eth. qs arse. abt. hw. soc. trt. ppl w/ crim. gene - sch. as rsk. dscrmntn./unf. lblng.)

Answer 18

The biological explanation of offender behaviour using candidate genes raises ethical issues. If behaviour is seen as genetically determined, it challenges the idea that offenders have full personal and moral responsibility for their actions. Legal systems are based on the assumption that people have free will, and only in extreme cases are individuals considered not responsible for their crimes. If criminal behaviour is attributed to genes, ethical questions arise about how society should treat people who are believed to carry “criminal” genes, such as the risk of discrimination or unfair labelling.

Question 19

4. What is a limitation of the genetic and neural explanations?

(corr. rsrch, shw. ass. nrl. diff. + off. behvr. - cnnt. est. C+E, unclr. nrl. abnrm = offend. - eng. off. behvr. lds. chngs. brn, red. scin. val. nrl. exp.)

Answer 19

Another limitation of the neural explanation of offending behaviour is that much of the supporting research is correlational. This means it can show an association between neural differences and offending behaviour, but it cannot establish cause and effect. As a result, it is unclear whether neural abnormalities cause offending, or whether engaging in offending behaviour leads to changes in the brain. This reduces the scientific validity of the neural explanation.