Biological theories of criminality: brain injuries and disorders and biochemical explanations Flashcards
What is EEG?
Electroencephalogram – measures brain activity
What is testosterone?
Male sex hormone linked to aggression, murder and rape
What is PMT?
Pre-menstrual tension – fluctuation in female sex hormones
What is PND?
Post-natal depression – used as defence in infanticide
What is lactation?
Breast-feeding. Used as defence in female crimes
What is hypoglycaemia?
Low blood-sugar. Linked to aggression and alcohol abuse
What is the key idea of injuries relating to brain injuries and disorders?
Brian injury can change personality and are more common in prisoners
What is the case study of injuries relating to brain injuries and disorders?
Phineas Gage- metal rod through the brain. Survived but personality changed
What is the key idea of disorders relating to brain injuries and disorders?
Some brain diseases have been linked with criminal or anti-social behaviour. Dementia, Encephalitis Lethargica’ brain tumours, Huntington’s chorea
What are EEG readings relating to brain injuries and disorders?
Some studies show abnormal EEG readings in psychopathic criminals
What is one strength of brain injuries and disorders?
A few extreme cases do show brain injury leads to changes in behaviour including criminality
What is a second strength of brain injuries and disorders?
Some correlation between abnormal EEG readings and psychopathy
What is a third strength of brain injuries and disorders?
Prisoners are more likely than non-prisoners to have a brain injury
What is one limitation of brain injuries and disorders?
Crimes caused by brain injury or disease are rare. Original personality more important
What is a second limitation of brain injuries and disorders?
Abnormal EEG not necessarily the cause and not found in all psychopaths
What is a third limitation of brain injuries and disorders?
Prisoner’s higher likelihood of brain injury may be affect of criminality not cause – e.g. getting into fights
What is the key idea of biochemical explanations?
Biochemical substances and processes linked to criminality
What are male sex hormones relating to biochemical explanations?
Ellis and Coontz: testosterone peaks puberty to early 20s – same as criminality
What are female sex hormones relating to biochemical explanations?
PMT, PND, Lactation all used as defence in court – affected mood/self-control
What is blood sugar relating to biochemical explanations?
Hypoglycaemia linked to aggression
What is substance abuse relating to biochemical explanations?
Prescription and illegal drugs and alcohol linked to crime. Can lead to increased aggression
What are other substances relating to biochemical explanations?
Lead, tartrazine linked to hyperactivity. Vit B deficiency linked to erratic behaviour
What is one strength of biochemical explanations?
Biochemical factors recognised by the courts
What is a second strength of biochemical explanations?
Sex hormones, alcohol, drugs all known to affect mood/behaviour
What is one limitation of biochemical explanations?
Biochemical processes may need an environmental trigger too
What is a second limitation of biochemical explanations?
Some studies find testosterone not linked to physical aggression
What is a third limitation of biochemical explanations?
Infanticide may be caused by isolation rather than hormones
What is one general criticism about biological theories?
Environmental factors - biology may give potentially criminal characteristics but need environmental trigger too
What is a second general criticism about biological theories?
Sample bias - only studying criminals means we don’t know about those who got away – can’t generalise
What is a third general criticism about biological theories?
Gender bias - most biological research only tells us about male criminality
What is a fourth general criticism about biological theories?
Crime is a social construct - biological theories look for universal explanations, but crime varies over time, place and culture
