brain injury as a cause of crime

Question 1

aquired brain injury

Answer 1

damage caused by events after birth

e.g. stroke or tumour

Question 2

traumatic brain injury

Answer 2

type of ABI

injury to the brain caused by trauma from an external force

Question 3

results of damage to PFC

Answer 3

less control over impulses and emotional responses - as ability to inhibit impulses from amygdala may be impaired

unable to make decisions and plan

change in personality

less self restraint

Question 4

results of damage to the hippocampus

Answer 4

less able to learn from past experiences or link emotional responses to memories

as it converts STM into LTM and communicates with the PFC during this formation

Question 5

results of damage to the hypothalamus

Answer 5

lack of regulation of the autonomic nervous system

and may interpret social stimuli incorrectly, sending impaired impulses - people may respond abnormally to stimuli

release of hormones may be abnormal due to impaired signals

Question 6

contribution of the PFC to aggressive behaviour

Answer 6

prefrontal cortical lesions result in aggressive behaviour

patients with frontal lobe injuries are more likely to use physical intimidation and threats in conflict situations

Question 7

contribution of NT’s (serotonin) in aggressive behaviour

Answer 7

serotonin facilitates pfc regions that are involved in modulating emergence of aggressive behaviours by acting on serotonin receptors in these regions

lower serotonin maay mean these arent modulated

shown by SSRI’s reducing impulsive aggression

Question 8

contribution of hormones in aggressive behaviour

Answer 8

high levels of cortisol associated with increased aggression

higher levels of testosterone can increase aggression - shown by castration decreasing aggression

dual hormone hypothesis

Question 9

Charles Whitman

Answer 9

killed 14 people
tumour pressing on his amygdala
wrote in his suicide note that he was having ‘unusual and irrational thoughts’ so wanted an autopsy

Question 10

Phineas Gage

Answer 10

pole through his PFC when working on a railroad
personality changed after the injury - cheated on wife and acted on impulses more
angry, irritable and poor social judgement after the injury

Question 11

Supporting research for PFC in criminal behaviour - Brower and Price (2001)

Answer 11

critical review of articles relating to evidence of frontal lobe dysfunction - in both males and females in violence and crime

found antisocial and criminal behaviour related to brain injury in the frontal lobes

pre frontal lobe is associated with problem solving and decision making - therefore damage will lead to aggression because they cannot identify the consequences of their actions

Question 12

Supporting research for the role of the PFC in criminal behaviour - Williams (2012)

Answer 12

young people and males more at risk of TBI
affects 8.5% of the population
60% of young male adult prisoners in custody have TBI
inability to prevent impulsivity behind the problems - prefrontal lobes are for control
brain is not fully developed till around 25 years - PFC among last to develop - issue with young people having brain injury

Question 13

percentage of population with TBI

Answer 13

8.5%

Question 14

Elbogen et al (2012)

Answer 14

amongst war veterans, being male was a risk factor for showing violence and antisocial behaviour

however, this could be due to being a war veteran instead of being male
- more likely to be involved in fights
- higher risk of TBI
social factors - e.g. war environment

Question 15

NHS website

Answer 15

young people more at risk of TBI
- PFC not fully developed until 25
- teenagers more likely to engage in risky activities
Suggests males are more at risk
- greater exposure to activities with a risk of hard impacts
8.5% of the population have TBI