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psychology component 3 > Criminal Behaviours > Flashcards

Criminal Behaviours Flashcards

1
Q

What is crime?

A

An act prohibited by law and punished by the state
An action considered to be a violation of moral or religious code
Violates norms of society

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2
Q

What do they believe crime is?

A

A social construct

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3
Q

How is crime a social construct

A

It’s flexible
Laws can change
The definition is not fixed

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4
Q

What are two types of crime

A

Property fraudulent crime
Interpersonal violence general

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5
Q

What is property fraudulent crime?

A

Deceit or manipulation

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6
Q

What is interpersonal violence general?

A

Threaten or cause harm

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7
Q

What is a career criminal?

A

When the person chooses to be a criminal and becomes a habitual offender

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8
Q

What are the traits of a career criminal?

A

Rationalisation
Entitlement
Asocial value system
Sentimentality
Impulsive
Family dysfunctional
Easily distracted
Power centric
Invincibility
Cognitive laziness

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9
Q

What are the 4 types of criminals?

A

Visionary serial killers
Mission orientated
Hedonistic serial killers
Power control serial killers

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10
Q

What are visionary serial killers?

A

Motivated to kill by voices or visions
Kill quickly
Genetic, brain injury or structure
Orders from god or the devil

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11
Q

What are mission orientated serial killers?

A

Believe they have a calling to eliminate a certain problem
They have a goal
And a reason to kill

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12
Q

What are hedonistic serial killers?

A

Lust/ thrill orientated
Murder is erotic and have sexual gratification
Comfort killer for personal gain, geographically mobile

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13
Q

What are power control serial killers

A

Derive sexual gratification from domination of the life of another
Aware of the norms and values in society
They prolong crimes

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14
Q

What is one biological explanation of crime?

A

Inherited criminality

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15
Q

What is inherited criminality

A

Certain genetic combinations predispose individuals to criminal behaviour

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16
Q

What are the three examples of inherited criminality

A

Family/ twin research
Candidate genes
Diathesis stress model

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17
Q

What are identical twins known as

A

Monozygotic = 100% the same gene

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18
Q

What are non identical twins known as

A

Dizygotic = 50% the same gene

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19
Q

What did Osborn and west say about family research?

A

40% of sons with fathers who had committed crime had records
13% of sons with fathers who had not committed crime had records
Suggest criminal behaviour may be inherited

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20
Q

What is the evaluation of Osborn and west?

A

AO3 Doesn’t consider environmental factors that have led to this correlation (upbringing and socialisation)

21
Q

What does rosanoff et al say about twin research?

A

97 twin pairs
Male MZ (67%) and DZ (17%)
Suggest some genetic influence in criminal behaviour

22
Q

What is the evaluation of twin research

A

AO3 Not 100% concordance rate, some other factors are influencing the development of criminal behaviour

23
Q

Is crime caused by genes?

A

Some genes link to behavioural tendencies eg violence and aggression

24
Q

What are candidate genes?

A

Genes identified that could play a role in the development of a disease

25
What is the MAOA gene
The warrior gene MAOA enzyme breaks down neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine)
26
What does low activity MAOA mean?
There is less breakdown of neurotransmitters Causes a build up of neurotransmitters Causes more agression
27
What did Brunner et al say about MAOA
analysed DNA of 28 male members of a Dutch family History of impulsive and violent crimes such as rape and murder Men shared mutation of MAOA gene = low levels of MAPA shows inherited genes
28
What is CDH13?
Gene involved in neural connectivity
29
What is CDH13 linked to?
ADHD, depression, substance misuse
30
What did Tiihoen et al say about CDH13?
900 Finnish offenders Low MAOA activity and low CDH13 estimated 5-10% of all violent crimes is due to abnormalities in two genes
31
What is the diathesis stress model?
A more modern example Crime can trigger a genetic by an environmental factor
32
How is the diathesis stress model shown?
MAOA—> bad environment —> criminal behaviour
33
What did Caspi et al say about the diathesis stress model
Longitudinal study 1000 people in the 1970s Antisocial behaviour assessed at 26 12% of men who had MAOA gene had experienced maltreatment in childhood Were responsible for 44% of violent convictions
34
What is the evaluation of inherited criminality?
Supporting research Biological reductionism Biological determinism Non violent crimes
35
What are the strengths and weaknesses of supporting research for inherited criminality
+ supporting evidence - ignores environmental factors
36
What are the strengths and weaknesses of biological reductionism in inherited criminality
+ pinpoints problem + a treatment can be established - too simple to suggest all crime is caused by genetics - ignores all external factors
37
What are the strengths and weaknesses of biological determinism in inherited criminality
+ makes behaviour more predictable + early intervention, can mitigate the problem - can excuse people’s behaviour - let them get away with it
38
What are the weaknesses of non violent crimes in inherited criminality
Focuses towards violent crimes Incomplete explanation = fraud
39
What are the weaknesses of eugenics in inherited criminality
Can encourage eugenic ideas People with MAOA and CDH13 could be encouraged not to reproduce Unethical when people have done nothing wrong Moral issue
40
What is the amygdala
Part of limbic system Influences behaviour involved in emotion and motivation Plays role in how we perceive and respond to threats in environment
41
What is IED
intermittent explosive disorder Impulsive and agressive Study= Each p viewer images of faces whilst having fMRI scan Show high amygdala activity when viewing angry faces Showing agressive tendencies which makes them vulnerable to criminal behaviour
42
What is fear conditioning
Learning that agressive behaviour leads to punishment or other negative outcomes
43
Why does dysfunction of the amygdala lead to agressive behaviour
The child is not able to identify social cues that indicate threat They do not link punishment to their aggressive behaviour The seem fearless and overly agressive
44
How can dysfunction of the amygdala explain criminal behaviour
They cannot identify the issue with their crime and would commit it anyway
45
What did Raine find in the role of the amygdala
Hemispheric asymmetry in amygdala functioning Reduced left activity and greater right activity = lack of fear, lack of empathy, lack of remorse and guilt
46
How can Raines evidence in role of amygdala explain criminal behaviour
Lack of fear = not scared of repoussions Lack of remise = nothing stopping them from committing crime such as murder
47
Advantages of role of the amygdala
Supporting evidence Raine et al Uses brain scans which makes it more credible and reliable
48
Disadvantages of role of the amygdala
Other brain areas are linked to criminality, not just the amygdala, not enough to count for criminal behaviour Biological reductionism, too simple to explain crime and dysfunctional amygdala Doesn’t consider other factors Suggest individuals has no control over amygdala, people can get away with crimes Doesn’t explain non violent crimes

psychology component 3 (4 decks)

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