Criminal Topic 1- What Makes A Criminal (bio)

Question 1

Outline the key research by raine et al -brain abnormalities in murderers indicated by PET

Answer 1

Background: earlier work showed relationship between low activity in pfc and violent behaviour, limpid also associated aims: to look at direct measures of cortical and subcortical brain functioning using pet scans for groups of murderers NGRI. Expect dysfunction in pfc, limbic and corpus callosum and areas of brain not related to violent behaviour. Sample: 41 (39m, 2f) convicted of murder/manslaughter and pleading NGRI, sent to imaging centre to see evidence for NGRI, complement to understand judicial process (6schizo, 23 brain damage, also substance abuse,affective,epileptic, learning disability, personality disorders. Control was 41 matched for age, gender and 6 schizo, others W no history of mental illness also singed consent . Controls: all off medication for 2 weeks before scan, confirmed w tests, taste to check left/right handed ness didn’t interfere, no diffs in race brain scan except cc. Materials: individual head holder, pet scanner, radioactive tracer to show glucose metabolism, continuous performance task (visually degraded, press 0 when no. Flash) method: 10min before injection-cpt task, 30s before (so novelty didn’t stop) searched for targets on screen and press button for 32 minutes than moved to pet and scanned 10x at 10mm intervals. Results: no diff in performance, ngris had lower pfc (loss of control) less in left amygdala (violence as lack of fear)less in cc (can’t grasp long term impl.) more in occipital and R thalamus. Conc: results and implications: not applied to other violent crimes or non violent, can’t show violence caused by biology, pet can’t diagnose murdereres and that not responsible

Question 2

What are the key studies for topic 1-

Answer 2

Reine, jahoda, palmer and Hollin, smoking in pregnancy , raine (Mauritius)

Question 3

What is topic 1

Answer 3

What makes a criminal

Question 4

Palmer and Hollin - mora, development

Answer 4

Compared pattern of moral dev in young offenders and non offenders to see if moral dev was delayed. 126 convicted male offenders aged 13-21, mainly bulglary and car theft. 332 non offenders in West Midlands. Self report asking socioeconomic status and 2 psychometric measures (sociomoral reflection measure for moral reasoning (contract, truth, property, law) and self reported delinquency checklist had diff levels of delinquent behaviour-confidential) offenders had least mature moral reasoning links to kohlberg preconventional while non offenders were conventional so offenders have more deficits

Question 5

Jahoda- self fulfilling prophecy

Answer 5

Studied delinquency rates amongst ashanti ghana (west Africa). They choose kradin/soul names for their male children according to what day of the week they were born on and that the day affects temperament. Monday boys (kwadwo) are though to be placid and Wednesday boys (kwaku) are believed to be violet and aggressive. Over 5 year period, 22% of violent offences in court are committed by boys with Wednesday names and 6.9% by Monday boys (evidence of self fulfilling prophecy) Boys are aware of the prophecy and were treated differently and had diff beliefs about themselves

Question 6

Raine- Mauritius study

Answer 6

100/1745 child ps with low resting heart rates (more extroverted) selected and compared with matched control group. 100 children received 3 part program : 1. Nutrition: milk, fruit juice and a hot meal a day of fish/chicken/mutton +salad 2. Physical exercise: afternoon sessions of gym, structured games and free play 3. Cognitive stimulation: 2 specially constructed nurseries that had toys, art, crafts, drama and music. Control followed normal curriculum. At age 11, children w intervention could focus attention better, had more mature brains and level of arousal had increased. Age 17: scored lower on conduct disorder ratings ( 52.6% reduction,9.4% reduction non intervention), less cruel and less likely to pick fights, not hot tempered and less likely to bully others. Gave further 100 children omega 3 supp once a day in juice drink for 6months- parents reported lower delinquency, aggression and attention problems

Question 7

Smoking in pregnancy and testosterone

Answer 7

Between 10-18 weeks of gestation, there is a major surge in testosterone which produces primary gender diffs (masculinises nervous system and behaviour). Personalities linked to aggression, attention seeking, impulsive, antisocial and lack of empathy all associated with raised T. Smoking can lead to higher prenatal T exposure to foetus and reduce Oe

Question 8

Application- bio strategy to prevent criminal behaviour

Answer 8

Don’t smoke when preggo, have supplement, diet and exercise