biological explanations of crime

Question 1

what is the role of the frontal lobe

Answer 1

conscious planning

self control and decision making

Question 2

what is the role of the temporal lobe

Answer 2

handles memory functions

Question 3

what is the role of the occipital lobe

Answer 3

processes sight

Question 4

what is the role of the parietal lobe

Answer 4

controls language

Question 5

what is the role of the limbic system

Answer 5

raw appetites and desires
sleep, hunger, aggression and sex
share with animals

Question 6

what is the role of the thalamus

Answer 6

the brain’s switchboard

Question 7

what is the role of the amygdala

Answer 7

the brains emotion centre

particularly fear

Question 8

what is the role of the hippocampus

Answer 8

forming new memories

Question 9

what did blair find

Answer 9

looked at brains of convicted psychopaths
PET scans revealed impairment of pathways between the amygdala and frontal lobes
makes it difficult for individuals to moderate emotional reactions
never appropriately develops empathy or feelings of guilt, acts more impulsively without regard for consequences

Question 10

what is the frontal brain hypotheses

Answer 10

malfunctioning relationship between the frontal cortex and the limbic system may cause criminal behaviour
research on people with brain damage
damasio looked at the effect of brain damage in children - a 3 month old infant who had a tumour removed - at 9 years of age the child had behavioural problems was socially isolated and inattentive. lose control of emotions

Question 11

what did raine find

Answer 11

ongoing longitudinal study
sudden, unpremeditated murder could have a biological cause abnormality in brain metabolism
low physiological arousal might mean an individual seeks thrills in increasing measures
results –> PET scan showed less active forebrain and corpus callosum as well as asymmetric differences (amygdala, thalamus and hippocampus)