Forensics: Biological Explanations Flashcards
What are the biological explanations:
- atavistic form
- genetic and neural explanations
Outline atavistic form:
- historical approach
- atavistic characteristics
- Lombroso’s research
Outline atavistic form:
- Historical approach
Lombroso suggested offenders are genetic throwbacks unable to conform to societies rules
Lack evolutionary development cant adjust to demands of society
Outline atavistic form:
- Atavistic characteristics
Murderer: bloodshot eyes, curly hair, long ears
Rapists: fleshy lips, glinting eyes
Fraudsters: Thin lips
Outline atavistic form:
- Lombroso’s research
examined facial and cranial features of 383 dead criminals and 3839 living
40% could be accounted for by atavistic features
Evaluate atavistic form
- Scientific racism (targets those with dark skin)
- Bias in Lombroso’s research
- Lack of control group in Lombroso’s research
- Causation vs correlation
- Didn’t find 100% correlation
Outline Genetic and Neural explanations:
Genetic:
- Twin studies
- Candidate genes
- Diathesis-stress model
Neural:
- Prefrontal cortex
- Mirror nuerons
Outline Genetic explanations:
- Twin studies
Lange: 13 MZ twins, 17 DZ twins
- one twin from each pair spent time in prison
- 10 of MZ only 2 DZ has also spent time in prison
must be genetic component
Outline Genetic explanations:
- Candidate genes
Abnormalities to two genes may be associated with crime:
- MAOA (controls dopamine and serotonin) linked to aggressive behaviour
- CDH13 (linked to substance abuse)
Outline Genetic explanations:
- Diathesis-stress model
combination of genetic predisposition and biological or psychological trigger
Outline Neural explanations:
- Prefrontal cortex
Prefrontal cortex responsible for emotion
those with Antisocial personality disorder have reduced activity in prefrontal cortex
ADP (anti-social personality disorder) symptoms:
reduced emotional responses
lack of empathy for feelings of others
Outline Neural explanations:
- Mirror Neurons
Research found criminals can show empathy but only when asked to emphasise
may have neural switch that can be turned on and off unlike normal brain where empathy is always switched on
Evaluate genetic and neural explanations
- twin studies, hard to decide between environment nd genetics
- Biological reductionism (twin studies don’t show 100% could be other factors)
- Criminal gene issues
