Criminal Psychology

Question 1

What is anti-social behaviour?

Answer 1

• Causing harassment, alarm or distress to others.

Question 2

What are some examples of anti-social behaviour?

Answer 2

Drunken behaviour, making hoax calls, being excessively noisy, not controlling animals, criminal damage, taking drugs, imitating other people.

Question 3

What is Criminal behaviour?

Answer 3

Violating the established law of the country.

Question 4

What are some examples of Criminal behaviour?

Answer 4

Stealing, murder and fraud are crimes that are against the law l and carry with them a punishment

Question 5

What does biological psychology look at in criminal behaviour?

Answer 5

Tends to look at causes of aggression as this is likely to lead to antisocial behaviour including crime.

Question 6

What does biological psychology look at in criminal behaviour?

Answer 6

Tends to look at causes of aggression as this is likely to lead to antisocial behaviour including crime.

Question 7

What is brain injury caused by?

Answer 7

• accident, injury, illness, strokes, tumours, surgery.
• Brain injury can also result from long-term alcohol or drug use.

Question 8

What parts of the brain may lead to someone engaging in criminal behaviour if damaged?

Answer 8

• An injury to the amygdala may result in an increase in impulse behaviours or irritability and aggression.

Question 9

What are the consequences of brain injury?

Answer 9

loss of memory, loss of concentration, decreased awareness of one’s own or others emotional state, poor impulse control, poor social judgement.

Question 10

What is the prevalence of brain injury in general population?

Answer 10

less than 10%

Question 11

What have studies from across the world typically shown is the percentage in offender population?

Answer 11

50-80%

Question 12

What has TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) been linked to?

Answer 12

• Most frequently in young people
• Males more than females
• Deprives socio-economic groups
• Urban areas
• Alcohol and drug use

Question 13

Who is Williams et al (2010)?

Answer 13

• He found that 60% of 196 prisoners investigated had received some form of traumatic brain injury due to falling, car accidents, and sports activities.
• Adults with traumatic brain injuries were relatively younger at the time of entry into the prison system than those without brain injury, and were more likely to reoffend.
• They suggested these injuries affect social judgement and impulsive behaviour and are also linked with more risk-taking behaviour.

Question 14

What does temperance mean?

Answer 14

self-restraint (so more likely to drink heavily, take drugs).

Question 15

What can we conclude from Williams et al (2010) investigation?

Answer 15

That there is an association between brain injury and criminality, which could be a factor in some offences.