Forensic Psych Flashcards
ATAVISTIC FORM
The tendency to revert to an ancestral type
Lombroso said…
offenders possess similar characteristics to lower primates and this could explain their criminality
Lombroso examined…
facial and cranial features of Italian convicts
findings of examination…
40% of criminal acts are not accounted for by atavistic characteristics but by people with activistic characteristics
Father of criminology
shifted the emphasis in crime research away from moralistic discourse towards science
features identified as atavistic form is most likely found in people of African descent
SCIENTIFIC RACIST
CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE
Charles goring 1913 - crimes are committed due to intelligence and not by physical appearance
Genetic explanation
offenders inheritage that predispose them to commit crime
twins studdies help to separate which debate
nature nurture
this person used identical and non identical twins in a study where one in the pair had served prison time
Johannes lange 1930
conclusion of Lange study
genetic factors must play a predominant part in offending behaviour
gene linked with sustained abuse and ADHD
CDH13
MAOA gene
controls dopamine and serotonin in the brain and liked to aggressive behaviour
individuals with a combination of these two genes
13x more likely to to have a history of violet behaviour
evaluation of this genetic study
no replication has been made yet so unreliable
diathesis stress model
genetics have some influence on offending however it is likely that this is moderated by the effects of the environment
overall conclusion
tendency towards criminal behaviour may occur through the combination of genetic predisposition and biological or physiological trigger
why did the twin studies have poor control and judgement
twin pairs being Identical or non identical was based on appearance rather than DNA testing
confounding variable within this study
twins reared within the same environment show concordance rate may be due to a shared learning experiences rather than genetics.
problems with adoption studies
presumed separation of genetic and environmental influences however many adoptees maintain contact with biological parents.
Neural explanation
neural differences in the brain of criminals and non-criminals
evidence to suggest this
investigated individuals diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (psychopathy).
APD is associated with
reduced emotional response, lack of empathy for feelings of others and is a condition that characterises many convicted criminals
Raine et al 1997 aim
identify brain regions specific to offenders charged with murder or manslaughter, who had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
what did the brain imaging studies demonstrate
individuals with antisocial personalities have reduced activity in the pre frontal cortex
other finding include
11% reduction in the volume of grey matter in the prefrontal cortex of people with APD compared to controls.
geysers et al found
only when criminals were asked to empathise did their empathy reaction activate (mirror neurone)
APD individuals have a…
neural switch unlike control groups.
conclusion of prefrontal cortex
decreased activity indicates that offenders are unable to consider the consequences of their actions and control their behaviour.
conclusion of abnormal brain function
brains of offenders are slowed and perhaps unable to make swift decisions to react appropriately in certain situations.
eval of neurochemical explanations
criticised for being too simplistic
