Forensic Psych

Question 1

ATAVISTIC FORM

Answer 1

The tendency to revert to an ancestral type

Question 2

Lombroso said…

Answer 2

offenders possess similar characteristics to lower primates and this could explain their criminality

Question 3

Lombroso examined…

Answer 3

facial and cranial features of Italian convicts

Question 4

findings of examination…

Answer 4

40% of criminal acts are not accounted for by atavistic characteristics but by people with activistic characteristics

Question 5

Father of criminology

Answer 5

shifted the emphasis in crime research away from moralistic discourse towards science

Question 6

features identified as atavistic form is most likely found in people of African descent

Answer 6

SCIENTIFIC RACIST

Question 7

CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE

Answer 7

Charles goring 1913 - crimes are committed due to intelligence and not by physical appearance

Question 8

Genetic explanation

Answer 8

offenders inheritage that predispose them to commit crime

Question 9

twins studdies help to separate which debate

Answer 9

nature nurture

Question 10

this person used identical and non identical twins in a study where one in the pair had served prison time

Answer 10

Johannes lange 1930

Question 11

conclusion of Lange study

Answer 11

genetic factors must play a predominant part in offending behaviour

Question 12

gene linked with sustained abuse and ADHD

Answer 12

CDH13

Question 13

MAOA gene

Answer 13

controls dopamine and serotonin in the brain and liked to aggressive behaviour

Question 14

individuals with a combination of these two genes

Answer 14

13x more likely to to have a history of violet behaviour

Question 15

evaluation of this genetic study

Answer 15

no replication has been made yet so unreliable

Question 16

diathesis stress model

Answer 16

genetics have some influence on offending however it is likely that this is moderated by the effects of the environment

Question 17

overall conclusion

Answer 17

tendency towards criminal behaviour may occur through the combination of genetic predisposition and biological or physiological trigger

Question 18

why did the twin studies have poor control and judgement

Answer 18

twin pairs being Identical or non identical was based on appearance rather than DNA testing

Question 19

confounding variable within this study

Answer 19

twins reared within the same environment show concordance rate may be due to a shared learning experiences rather than genetics.

Question 20

problems with adoption studies

Answer 20

presumed separation of genetic and environmental influences however many adoptees maintain contact with biological parents.

Question 21

Neural explanation

Answer 21

neural differences in the brain of criminals and non-criminals

Question 22

evidence to suggest this

Answer 22

investigated individuals diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (psychopathy).

Question 23

APD is associated with

Answer 23

reduced emotional response, lack of empathy for feelings of others and is a condition that characterises many convicted criminals

Question 24

Raine et al 1997 aim

Answer 24

identify brain regions specific to offenders charged with murder or manslaughter, who had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

Question 25

what did the brain imaging studies demonstrate

Answer 25

individuals with antisocial personalities have reduced activity in the pre frontal cortex

Question 26

other finding include

Answer 26

11% reduction in the volume of grey matter in the prefrontal cortex of people with APD compared to controls.

Question 27

geysers et al found

Answer 27

only when criminals were asked to empathise did their empathy reaction activate (mirror neurone)

Question 28

APD individuals have a…

Answer 28

neural switch unlike control groups.

Question 29

conclusion of prefrontal cortex

Answer 29

decreased activity indicates that offenders are unable to consider the consequences of their actions and control their behaviour.

Question 30

conclusion of abnormal brain function

Answer 30

brains of offenders are slowed and perhaps unable to make swift decisions to react appropriately in certain situations.

Question 31

eval of neurochemical explanations

Answer 31

criticised for being too simplistic