Biological Explanations of Criminal and Anti-Social Behaviour:

Question 1

What did Lombroso believe was an indicator of criminal behaviour?

Answer 1

He believed that physical appearance was an indicator of criminal behaviour.

Question 2

How can criminal behaviour be caused?

Answer 2

It can be caused by the impact of traumatic brain injury leading to damage in different areas of the brain causing different types of criminal behaviour.

Question 3

How can Trauma be caused?

Answer 3

It can be caused by a range of different factors such as car accident, a fall or the result of being involved in a criminal activity.

Question 4

Another thing that could effect criminal behaviour? Drug or alcohol.

Answer 4

Is long term drug or alcohol abuse that could be responsible for criminal behaviour, for example the toxic effect of alcohol on the central nervous system due to the reduction of absorption of vitamin B1 can lead to significant brain injury as this vitamin acts a nutrient for brain tissue.

Question 5

Another thing that could effect criminal behaviour? Deficiencies.

Answer 5

Deficiencies in this area can cause problems with balance and impaired decision making.

Question 6

How does damage to the Frontal lobe lead to criminal behaviour?

Answer 6

This affects problem solving abilities and decision making so damage here can lead to violence and anti-social behaviour. Also injuries here can also lead to poor control over impulses.

Question 7

How does damage to the Hippocampus affect criminal behaviour?

Answer 7

This may affect the accuracy of how a memory is stored so a criminal event is stored differently making it more likely to be repeated.

Question 8

How does damage to the Hypothalamus could affect criminal behaviour?

Answer 8

This may affect the control of rage and pleasure a person experiences, and the offender may not be able to process the information in a appropriate way.

Question 9

Supporting Evidence: Sweet:

Answer 9

I: Reported the case of spree killer Charles Whitman who sprayed gunfire at students at Texas University and killing around 17 and injuring over 30.
J: At autopsy, they found a large tumour in the limbic area of the brain supporting the idea that some areas of the brain are responsible for violence.

Question 10

Critical Evidence: Blair:

Answer 10

I: Found that case studies of anti-social personality disorder often have frontal lobe damage so linking brain injury as a cause of criminal behaviour.
J: Which allows predictions to be made about likely offenders.

Question 11

Critical Evidence: Polman:

Answer 11

I: Found that playing violent video games had a bigger influence on aggression levels of males than simply watching TV violence.
J: Showing that it is not just about observing the violence but getting the opportunity to imitate it that leads to an increase in violent behaviour and not brain injury.

Question 12

Critical Evidence: Eysenck:

Answer 12

I: Found that the criminal scored more highly on E, N and P scales than non-criminals.
J: Suggesting that personality has a role in criminality, rather then damage to the brain.

Question 13

Issues and Debates: Reductionist:

Answer 13

This theory is reductionist as it ignores other factors such as personality and only focuses on brain injury. This suggests that the biological explanations are too reductionist doesn’t look at other factors.