biological - offending behaviour

Question 1

genetic = twin studies

Answer 1

• criminals inherit a gene
• Christian 1977 - 3500 twin pairs in Denmark
• concordance rates: identical twin = 35% non-identical = 13%
• behaviour and underlying traits are inherited

Question 2

adoption studies

Answer 2

• crowe 1972
• biological mother with criminal record = 50% risks of having criminal records by 18 vs 5%

Question 3

candidate genes

Answer 3

• tiihonen 2014 = genetic analysis of 800 offenders
• abnormalities in MAOA = contrals dopmanine and serotonin in the brain and is linked to violent crime
• CDH13 - substance abuse and ADHD

Question 4

mirror neurons

Answer 4

• active when we are performing or watching someone else perform
• see intentions + emotions of other people = experience empathy
• switched on by default
• only when criminals were asked to emphasise then their empathy reaction activated