forensic psychology

Question 1

historical approach: Lombroso’s atavistic theory

Answer 1

• shifted crime explanations from moral judgements to scientific analysis
• studied 4,000+ criminals to identify physical and behavioral markers of potential offenders
• proposed criminals are “genetic throwbacks” who are unable to conform to societal norms

Question 2

physical markers identified by Lombroso

Answer 2

• large jaw
• narrow, sloping brows
• facial asymmetry
• large ears
• high cheekbones
• thin lips
• extra toes, fingers, nipples

Question 3

neural explanation

Answer 3

• pre-frontal cortex (PFC) linked to antisocial personality disorder
• raine et al. found 11% reduction in PFC grey matter among murderers
• mirror neurons function differently in criminals with APD allowing selective empathy

Question 4

genetic explanation

Answer 4

• twin studies suggest a genetic predisposition to criminal behavior
• specific genes like MAOA and CDH13 are potentially linked to aggression and criminal tendencies
• diathesis-stress model explains the interaction between genetic and environmental factors

Question 5

activist evaluation

Answer 5

• methodological issues, no control group
• issues of causation, ignores environmental factors
• “scientific racism”

Question 6

genetics and neural evaluations

Answer 6

• problems with twin studies, can’t generalise
• determinist approach, ignores free will
• problems with adoption studies, environmental differences
• reductionist approach, overly simplistic
  + support for diathesis-stress model, mednick adoption study

Question 7

inadequate superego theory: blackburn

Answer 7

• explains criminal behavior through psychological developmental processes
• weak superego formation occurs when, same-sex parent is absent during childhood, child cannot internalize a fully formed moral conscience
• immoral behaviour will have free reign as the superego is not there to warn against it
• deviant superego forms from internalising superego of criminal parent
• over-harsh superego caused by overly strict parenting

Question 8

maternal deprivation theory: bowlby

Answer 8

• emphasises the importance of early caregiver bonding
• without this bond there may be consequences such as affectionless psychopathy, inability to develop empathy, potential engagement in delinquent behaviors

Question 9

psychodynamic explanations of crime evaluation

Answer 9

• methodological limitations with bowlby’s research, potential researcher bias in original studies
• contradictory evidence, lack of consistent evidence linking same-sex parent absence to criminal behaviour, criminals concealing crimes to avoid detection contradicts overly-harsh superego formation occurs
• unfalsifiable, cannot scientifically prove unconscious processes

Question 10

eysenck’s theory of criminal personality

Answer 10

• proposed three key personality traits that could lead to criminal behaviour, introversion/extroversion, neuroticism/stability, and psychoticism
• high extroversion: seeks excitement and stimulation
• high neuroticism: nervous and unpredictable
• high psychoticism: cold, manipulative, aggressive
• personality has a biological basis, linked to the nervous system and our emotional responses
• also linked by socialisation, criminals find it hard to learn from consequences of their actions
• measured personality by tests and scales, e.g. EPQ

Question 11

eysneck evaluation

Answer 11

• cultural differences, hispanic and african-americans less extroverted than control
• reductionist and oversimplified, digman suggested two extra factors, openness and agreeableness
  + supporting evidence, compared 2,070 prisoners with 2,422 controls, finding prisoners scored higher on all three personality measures
• biological determinism, implies physiology predetermines behavior, ignoring free will