criminal psychology

Question 1

how does damage to PFC effect CB

Answer 1

damage effects ability to consider alternative behaviours
aggressive personality
make poor decisions

Question 2

how does damaged/overactive hypothalamus effect CB

Answer 2

responsible for hormones
increases testosterone = aggressive behaviour

Question 3

how does damaged/overactive amygdala effect CB

Answer 3

damage can increase fight or flight response
act more impulsively

Question 4

what did Hyde et al find about amygdala and CB

Answer 4

conducted a study using both male and female participants to investigate the role of the
amygdala in criminality; they found that the amygdala might be involved in criminal and ASB (e.g. higher scores
for psychopathy were associated with lower amygdala activity and that higher scores in ASB were associated
with higher amygdala activity) but did not comment on any gender differences.

Question 5

what did shirtcliff et al find about neurobiology of ASB

Answer 5

conducted a study investigating the neurobiology of ASB. They found that the
neurobiology involved in emotions such as empathy and callousness is different for males and females. And even
though they didn’t mention the amygdala explicitly, they had previously mentioned that the amygdala is critical
in the regulation of emotions. Therefore it can be assumed that the gender differences they found were due to
gender differences in the structure and/or function of the amygdala.

Question 6

2 strengths of brain damage explaining CB

Answer 6

Williams et al (2010) found that 60% of 196 prisoners had received some form of brain injury due to
falling, car accidents or sports activities. Those that had brain injury were more likely to enter prison when
they were younger and were more likely to reoffend than those criminals that did not have brain injury.
from alcohol), social judgement and the ability to control impulses.

Pardini found that 26 year old men with lower amygdala volumes were three times more likely to be
aggressive, violent & to show psychopathic traits three years later than men of the same age with normal
sized amygdala’s

Question 7

2 weaknesses of brain damage explaining CB

Answer 7

Fallon looked at the brains of many individuals using MRI scans and identified one brain with a small
amygdala, and thus as being psychopathic. But it was incorrect and he later found out that the brain he had
been looking at was his own

Kreutzer (1995) found that without the presence of substance use history, traumatic brain injury was not
a risk factor for criminal behaviour

Question 8

what does PEN stand for

Answer 8

Psychoticism - no remorse, lack of empathy, hostile
Extravert - outgoing, like spending time with others, seek sensation
Neurotic, emotionally unstable, impulsive

Question 9

how does psychoticism effect CB

Answer 9

Less clear on how P is related to
the functionality of the nervous
system. It has been suggested
that it could be linked to male
hormones such as testosterone,
but there is little research to
suggest this.

Question 10

how does extraversion effect CB

Answer 10

RAS regulates arousal that
inhbits incoming sensations. So
the indidual will seek external
stimulation to readdress the
balance and reach their optimum
level of arousal. Low levels of
arousal and therefore needs
stimulation from the
environment.

Question 11

how does neuroticism effect CB

Answer 11

Linked to levels of reactivity of
the ANS. A neurotic has a more
reactive ANS, specifically the
sympathetic bran that is
responsible for the fight or
flight response. It is quick to
‘turn on’ and release adrenaline,
and slow to ‘turn off’.

Question 12

2 strengths of Eysencks PEN personality

Answer 12

Practical applications. Eysenck’s Personality Questionnaire (which is based on EPT) could be used to
identify individuals that might be at risk of committing crime so preventative steps/particular areas or
individuals could be targeted/put in place, especially if potential criminal behaviour could be detected in
childhood. This could lead to interventions based on parenting or early treatment for delinquency.

Boduszek et al (2013) found that there were higher levels of extraversion amongst inmates who had high
levels of recidivism. Therefore showing that Eysenck’s theory has validity as he said high levels of
extroversion were associated with criminal behaviour.

Question 13

2 weaknesses of Eysencks PEN personality

Answer 13

Hollin (1989) notes a similar pattern of findings: offenders generally show higher P & N scores but not
necessarily higher E scores.

Blackburn (1993) suggests it appears to be related to psychopathic tendencies, but not in a consistent
way. Without an adequate definition of P, it is not possible to satisfactorily measure it. To measure P,
respondents answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to a series of statements about whether they act selfishly and
aggressively. Their scores on such scales are then used to ‘explain’ why high P-scorers act aggressively
and antisocially. This is a circular argument.

Question 14

how des XYY syndrome effect CB

Answer 14

XYY syndrome is a genetic condition that occurs when a male has an extra male (Y) chromosome within the 23rd
pair of chromosomes, instead of the usual one (XY). They therefore have a total of 47 chromosomes.

Many men with XYY do not even know that they have an extra chromosome. Most boys with XYY will have a
normal development although some may grow faster and taller than their siblings. Some studies have shown
they may have a slightly lower level of intelligence, around 10-15 IQ points below, in comparison to their
siblings, although still within the normal rang. Men with XYY may be more impulsive than XY boys, and also may
be more active physically. XYY syndrome has previously been thought to make men overly aggressive and lack
empathy, leading to it being known as a ‘super-male’ syndrome.

Question 15

3 strengths of XYY

Answer 15

Gosavi et al (2009) looked at 94 criminals convicted of murder in India and found an association between
criminal behaviour and XYY syndrome. Therefore, suggesting the theory is valid as the mutation is found
within criminals.

Briken et al (2006) found that3 out of 13 sexual offenders that were analysed for XYY syndrome had this
condition. Therefore, increasing the validity of XYY syndrome as the mutation is found is sex offenders.

Stochholm et al (2012) found a significant increase in the number of convictions amongst Danish men in all
crimes (except drug and traffic related crime) in comparison to a control group. Therefore, increasing the
validity of the theory as the research showed tat the risk of conviction was increased for XYY males.

Question 16

3 weaknesses of XYY

Answer 16

Witkin et al (1976) found no direct link between crime and XYY syndrome once background variables were
controlled for, amongst 4,591 Danish men. Therefore, reducing the validity of the theory - suggesting that
XYY is not solely responsible for criminal behaviour and hat nurture (background variables) has ore of an
impact.

Re & Birkhoff (2015) did a review of evidence gathered over the last 50 years relating to XYY syndrome
and concluded that there is no direct link between this condition and crime. However, they did find a link
between this condition and other factors which may then lead to criminal behaviour (e.g. language and speech
delays, learning disabilities, poor writing ability and social and emotional problems). Therefore, reducing the
validity of the theory as other factors must be responsible for criminal behaviour.

Reductionist

Question 17

2 strengths of social learning theory to explain CB

Answer 17

Farrington found that a large percentage of crimes are committed by members of few families: 4% of 400 families accounted for 50% of convictions of all family members. social learning theory can explain this because they are imitating CB from role models in their family. T/F suggesting CB is learnt via observation and imitation, increasing validity

practical applications

Question 18

2 weaknesses of social learning theory to explain CB

Answer 18

does not account for all types of crime
reductionist

Question 19

what are the 8 stages of labelling theory

Answer 19

1. society creates deviant label based on stereotypes
2. authorities maintaining their power structure in society
3. label ascribed to an individual who displays deviant behaviour
4. the individual may be treated according to that deviant label
5. this can lead to the individual becoming stigmatised within society
6. the individual will believe the label and have low self image of themselves
7. others will treat them based on the label, individual feels marginalised in society
8. this can lead the individual to go on and fulfil the label and commit more criminal behaviour

Question 20

2 strengths of labelling theory to explain CB

Answer 20

Besemer et al (2013) found that children of convicted parents had a higher risk of conviction themselves.
Besmer et al also suggested that environmental factors (social circumstances) may make it more likely that
a conviction is made. These included low family income, poor housing. Therefore, this increases the validity
of the theory as it might be the police are more likely to focus on certain families as they have been
labelled as criminal, which means that they are more likely to get caught and prosecuted.

Lieberman et al. (2014) found that juveniles who had been previously arrested were more likely to commit
other crimes compared with juveniles who had not been previously arrested

Question 21

2 weaknesses of labelling theory to explain CB

Answer 21

Unscientific It is difficult to experimentally research labelling theory. It is hard to isolate labelling and to
just measure the effect of this variable on criminal behaviour. It would not be possible to set up an
experiment where some Ps are labelled and others are not, to see what effect this has on later behaviour.

Lemert (1962) studied cheque forgers. These criminal often came from a good socio-economic background
and had not been in trouble with law enforcements before starting their chosen deviant act. They work on
the principle that they wanted to live well. They usually work under a pseudonym and no labelling occurred
before their criminal career began, thus had been active before they had been labelled, so their self-image
is not affected by the label.

Question 22

what is self fulfilling prophecy

Answer 22

self-fulfilling prophecies occur when beliefs or expectations about behaviour for which there is no evidence come true when the beliefs are fulfilled.

Question 23

what is the pygmalion effect

Answer 23

our actions towards others > others beliefs about us > others actions towards us > our beliefs about ourselves

Question 24

2 strengths of self fulfilling prophecy as a social explanation of crime and ASB

Answer 24

Jahoda (1954) studied the Ashanti (a population from Ghana), where boys were named according to the day
of the week that they were born; and each day of the week has a different ‘soul’. E.g. the soul of children
born on Mondays was that they would be quiet and peaceful, whilst the soul of children born on Wednesdays
was that they would be aggressive and quick tempered. Jahoda discovered from court records that children
born on a Wednesday were more likely to be convicted of crimes against the person than children born on a
Monday

Madon et al. (2003) used self-report questionnaires and measured whether mothers expectations about
their children’s future alcohol use would reflect actual alcohol use. She found that parents who
overestimated their child’s alcohol use showed a positive correlation to actual alcohol use a year later

Question 25

2 weaknesses of self fulfilling prophecy as a social explanation of crime and ASB

Answer 25

Practical issues. Given that by definition, a self-fulfilling prophecy requires that the original label be
false, so that the behaviour of the individual or group changes to fit the label. It is difficult to find a false
belief in naturalistic studies because in order to establish the belief was false self-report measures would
need to be used. These require insight, honesty & disclosure, which may not occur due to demand
characteristics or social desirability bias. In addition, it would be unethical to give a group of Ps a label
that is false, because this could damage their self-esteem.

reductionist

Question 26

what is offence analysis

Answer 26

Offence analysis refers to the process of trying to understand why a crime occurred, including assessments of
the offenders.

Question 27

what are psychological formulations

Answer 27

Psychological formations is like a case study of an individual who has committed a crime. Psychological
formations aim to create a hypothesis to explain how criminal behaviour develops and why it is maintained, using
the application of psychological theory to the offender.

Question 28

2 strengths of psychological formulations

Answer 28

Ghaderi (2006) found that case formulations can be effective at predicting which treatments will be
effective (and ineffective) for different criminals.

Whitehead et al. (2007) found that case formulation did work with the case of Mr C, due to the fact it
worked towards goals that were valued by Mr C. It helped him keep on track once he was released

Question 29

2 weaknesses of psychological formulations

Answer 29

Schulte et al (1992) found that formulation-based therapy was less effective than flooding

reductionist