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Criminology A level > Biological theories of criminality: brain injuries and disorders and biochemical explanations > Flashcards

Biological theories of criminality: brain injuries and disorders and biochemical explanations Flashcards

1
Q

What is EEG?

A

Electroencephalogram – measures brain activity

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2
Q

What is testosterone?

A

Male sex hormone linked to aggression, murder and rape

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3
Q

What is PMT?

A

Pre-menstrual tension – fluctuation in female sex hormones

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4
Q

What is PND?

A

Post-natal depression – used as defence in infanticide

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5
Q

What is lactation?

A

Breast-feeding. Used as defence in female crimes

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6
Q

What is hypoglycaemia?

A

Low blood-sugar. Linked to aggression and alcohol abuse

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7
Q

What is the key idea of injuries relating to brain injuries and disorders?

A

Brian injury can change personality and are more common in prisoners

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8
Q

What is the case study of injuries relating to brain injuries and disorders?

A

Phineas Gage- metal rod through the brain. Survived but personality changed

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9
Q

What is the key idea of disorders relating to brain injuries and disorders?

A

Some brain diseases have been linked with criminal or anti-social behaviour. Dementia, Encephalitis Lethargica’ brain tumours, Huntington’s chorea

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10
Q

What are EEG readings relating to brain injuries and disorders?

A

Some studies show abnormal EEG readings in psychopathic criminals

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11
Q

What is one strength of brain injuries and disorders?

A

A few extreme cases do show brain injury leads to changes in behaviour including criminality

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12
Q

What is a second strength of brain injuries and disorders?

A

Some correlation between abnormal EEG readings and psychopathy

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13
Q

What is a third strength of brain injuries and disorders?

A

Prisoners are more likely than non-prisoners to have a brain injury

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14
Q

What is one limitation of brain injuries and disorders?

A

Crimes caused by brain injury or disease are rare. Original personality more important

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15
Q

What is a second limitation of brain injuries and disorders?

A

Abnormal EEG not necessarily the cause and not found in all psychopaths

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16
Q

What is a third limitation of brain injuries and disorders?

A

Prisoner’s higher likelihood of brain injury may be affect of criminality not cause – e.g. getting into fights

17
Q

What is the key idea of biochemical explanations?

A

Biochemical substances and processes linked to criminality

18
Q

What are male sex hormones relating to biochemical explanations?

A

Ellis and Coontz: testosterone peaks puberty to early 20s – same as criminality

19
Q

What are female sex hormones relating to biochemical explanations?

A

PMT, PND, Lactation all used as defence in court – affected mood/self-control

20
Q

What is blood sugar relating to biochemical explanations?

A

Hypoglycaemia linked to aggression

21
Q

What is substance abuse relating to biochemical explanations?

A

Prescription and illegal drugs and alcohol linked to crime. Can lead to increased aggression

22
Q

What are other substances relating to biochemical explanations?

A

Lead, tartrazine linked to hyperactivity. Vit B deficiency linked to erratic behaviour

23
Q

What is one strength of biochemical explanations?

A

Biochemical factors recognised by the courts

24
Q

What is a second strength of biochemical explanations?

A

Sex hormones, alcohol, drugs all known to affect mood/behaviour

25
Q

What is one limitation of biochemical explanations?

A

Biochemical processes may need an environmental trigger too

26
Q

What is a second limitation of biochemical explanations?

A

Some studies find testosterone not linked to physical aggression

27
Q

What is a third limitation of biochemical explanations?

A

Infanticide may be caused by isolation rather than hormones

28
Q

What is one general criticism about biological theories?

A

Environmental factors - biology may give potentially criminal characteristics but need environmental trigger too

29
Q

What is a second general criticism about biological theories?

A

Sample bias - only studying criminals means we don’t know about those who got away – can’t generalise

30
Q

What is a third general criticism about biological theories?

A

Gender bias - most biological research only tells us about male criminality

31
Q

What is a fourth general criticism about biological theories?

A

Crime is a social construct - biological theories look for universal explanations, but crime varies over time, place and culture

Criminology A level (14 decks)

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