Crime-Topic 1-What makes a criminal? Flashcards
What does the biological explanation state for criminal behaviour?
It has been suggested that there may be individuals in society who are predisposed to be more likely to become criminals due to their genetic make-up.
What did the Osborne and West study find?
Criminal behaviour has a tendency to run in families. OW compared the sons of criminal and non-criminal fathers. They found that 13% of the sons of non-criminal fathers had criminal convictions, compared to 40% of the sons of the criminal fathers
What is Monoamine oxadise A (MAOA)?
An enzyme tat breaks down important neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine and serotonin; MAOA is regulated by the MAOA gene and humans have various forms of the gene, resulting in different levels of activity of the enzyme. One variant of the gene is associated with high levels of MAOA and another with low levels. Several studies have now found a correlation between the low activity form of the MAOA gene and aggression.
What year was Osborne and West’s study?
1982
What did Capsi et al look at?
Studied 1037 children (442 boys) born in 1972 in NZ. The children were studied from birth to adulthood (26 years) The study found that men with the variant is associated with low levels (MAOA-L) were sig more likely to grow up to exhibit antisocial behaviour, but only if they had been maltreated as children. On its own MAOA gene variant had no effect
What year was capsi’s study?
2002
What was the physiological explanation of criminal behaviour (testosterone)
Statistically men commit significantly more crimes than females and most violent offenders are indeed males. Since males produce more testosterone than females it makes sense that this hormone could explain criminal behaviour.
What is testosterone linked to?
aggression, dominance and libido
What was Dabbs (1995) study?
Examined the relationship between testosterone, crime and prison behaviour among 692 male prison inmates. Testosterone was measured from saliva samples, and behaviour was coded from prison system records.
What were the results of Dabbs’ study?
Inmates who had committed personal crimes of sex and violence had higher testosterone levels than inmates who had committed property crimes of burglary, theft and drugs. Inmates with higher testosterone levels also violated more rules in prison, especially rules involving overt confrontation. The findings indicate differences between low and high testosterone individuals in the amount and pattern of their misbehaviour.
How does the amygdala have a part in aggressive behaviour?
The amygdala is responsible for feelings of fear. People with an exaggerated amygdala reactivity show impulse aggression, whereas people who are aggressive but more cold and calculating, have reduced amygdala volume and functioning.
How does the hippocampus have a part in aggressive behaviour?
If the hippocampus is damaged its associated with impulse activity and people who commit unplanned impulsive murders who a higher metabolic rate in the hippocampus compared to controls.
How is the Thalamus associated with aggressive behaviour?
Is associated with changes in emotional reactivity.
Damage to the thalamus is thought to be linked to combativeness.
How is the prefrontal cortex associated with aggressive behaviour?
Is associated with impulsivity and poor behavioural control.
Individuals with damage to this region have less self control and are more aggressive and have impaired emotional processing.
What does Raine say about the prefrontal cortex?
It’s the part of the brain involved in regulating and controlling behaviour…. it’s a bit like the emergency brake ion behaviour. That emergency brake is gone in the violent offender.
What does the Social learning theory think causes criminal behaviour?
SLT claims that behaviour is the result of the social environment in which a child grows up (nurture). The suggestion is that children acquire antisocial behaviour through process of reinforcement and imitation of criminal “models”. behaviour that is rewarded or reinforced is likely to be repeated and learned. behaviour is positively reinforced if it brings about a desired outcome. For example, gaining good material by stealing.
What does Farrington and west (1996) study look at?
Began the Cambridge study in delinquent development. The aim was to see if it would be possible to predict offending behaviour. This was a longitudinal study based on interviews and tests conducted at various ages from the age of 8 until 31. The ps were 411 London boys mostly born in 1953.
what were the results of Farrington and West’s study?
By the age of 32, 37% had committed a criminal offence.
Offending was very much concentrated in families. 4% of the 400 families accounted for 50% of all convictions of all families. the worst offenders seem to come from large-sized multi-problem families. The most common crimes were in the late teens was burgulary, shoplifting and vandalism
What measures were included in Farrington and west’s study?
Tests and interviews at school age 8,10 and 14 years and interviews in the research office at 16,18 and 21. The school tests measured IQ, attainment and personality. The interviews collected information about employment history, relationships and offending behaviour.
Interviews were also conducted primarily with the boy’s mothers.
Questionnaires were also completed by the boy’s teachers and concerned troublesome and aggressive behaviour, attainment and truancy. peers also provided info.
Criminal records were obtained in references to convictions of the boys, parents, siblings etc.
What is the Non-psychological explanation Differential association
A theory developed by Sutherland proposing that through interaction with others, individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques, and motives for criminal behaviour
What did Akers (1979) find in relation to the non-psychological explanation-differential association
Found that 68% of the variance in marijuana use of 2500 American adolescents could be explained in terms of differential association and reinforcements from peers.
What is meant by the Non-physiological explanation 3-cognitive theories- Becker’s rational choice theory (1968)?
States that criminal behaviour is no different from noncriminal behaviour in that a person intentionally chooses to partake in CB. the reason that they choose to commit crime is that they think it will be more rewarding and less costly for them than noncriminal behaviour.
What was the aim of the key research by Raine?
to study brain activity in murders and non-murders using positron emission tomography (PET) to find out whether there were differences in areas thought to be involved in violent behaviour.
What research method was used in the key research by Raine?
quasi experiment in a lab setting
