EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS Flashcards
What is a good basic definition of criminal behavior?
HINT: BREAKING THE LAW
-Must be INTENTIONAL
-Must VIOLATE THE LAW
-Determined BY A PERSON TO BE HARMFUL AND/OR DANGEROUS
-Must have CONSEQUENCES
WHO DEFINES SOMETHING IS CRIMINAL? AND HOW?
Congress and state legislators.
They are banned by authorities and made punishable by law.
Each state defines what is criminal code.
Name the 2 parts of the brain that are IMPORTANT:
Limbic System & Pre-Frontal Cortex
What are they? What do they do?
(Regarding behavior)
*Limbic system is: (center) part of the brain
1. It controls survival instincts and behavioral emotional responses. Basic human needs.
2. Fear, pleasure, hunger, sex
*Pre-Frontal Cortex: Frontal Lobe (Forehead)
PERSONALITY CENTER
1. Regulates thoughts, emotions, and actions.
2. Reasoning impulse control and decision-making
-Executive Functioning: it controls speech
What are the major limitations of official crime statistics?
(DARK FIGURE OF CRIME) & THE “CLEARANCE RATE”
THE UCR= The FBI compiled this
**UCR arrests reported by police
**Reports of cases that are cleared/closed
=THIS IS CALLED THE “CLEARANCE RATE”
Federal agencies do not report
NCVS= National Crime Victimization Survey
Crimes not reported, like Domestic Violence
Minorities are not represented
What is Use-Dependence & neurons? What does it do?
The brain is not a single system. It is an interconnected
w/many intereactive systems
- Use-dependency= You automatically keep using the function and it builds up
EX: You learn how to drive and it becomes a second nature - It is “use it or lose it”- If you don’t use a part of your brain, it loses it’s function purpose
- Neurons need to be used to function properly
Which crime is most frequently REPORTED to police?
HINT: Which crime is the most LIKELY to be reported to police?
Aggravated assault
Robbery
What PERCENTAGE of calories (ENERGY) is devoted to FEEDING your brain?
25%
What has been the general trend for crime in the past 20 years?
HINT: Trend for property and violent crime?
Has it gone up or down?
THE REASON: DRUGS!!
AND SOCIO ECONOMIC re: propertry
Violent crime has gone DOWN from the 90’s
What is neuroplasticity? (Otherwise known as Plasticity)
The ability of the brain to CHANGE and DEVELOP NEW NEURAL CONNECTIONS throughout life.
It means to be changeable or moldable.
It means for the ability for the brain to adapt
What does Teratogen refer to?
Chemicals or substances that can interfere with the process of development
OF A FETUS IN THE WOMB
For Example: ALCOHOL, ARSENIC, RADIATION EXPOSURE
-It causes injuries/insult-means it is a malformation of the brain
What is a basic definition (description) of an Antisocial Behavior?
Actions by which are considered to violate rights of others
or otherwise harm others by committing crime or nuisance.
Clinical term reserved for serious habitual behavior, especially that involving direct harm to others.
What impacts of substances have on a fetus?
Which one is the most impactful?
ALCOHOL!
Name which parts of the baby get messed up by alcohol
Lead
& Teratogens
What is (Pruning) Apoptosis? CELLULAR DEATH!
It is the removal of unused synapses
Cellular death!
It is the removal of unused synapses
It makes the brain more efficient
As much as 1% “loss” each year
Basic definition of temperament
-What are the characteristics?
“Fabiola is genetically grouchy because ppl are rude”
Attitude, mood, interaction style, method of relation-perceivable from infancy.
-It is from genetics and biology
Characteristics: How we intersect with others and how they treat us.
What is the SINGLE MOST INFLUENTIAL and CONTROLLABLE FACTOR associated with crime?
SUBSTANCES ABUSE!
Specially ALCOHOL!
