Genetic and Neural (bio explanation)

Question 1

Who conducted twin studies for genetic explanations?

Answer 1

• Christianson studied over 3500 twin pairs in Denmark and found concordance rates for offender behaviour of 35% fir identical twins males and 13% for non-identical twin males (slightly lower for females)
• Data indicates that underlying predisposing traits are inherited

Question 2

Who conducted adoption studies for genetic explanations?

Answer 2

• Crowe found adopted children whose mother had a criminal record had a 50% risk of having a criminal record by the age of 18 otherwise they had a 5% risk

Question 3

Who investigated candidate genes for the genetic explanation of criminal behaviour?

Answer 3

• Tiihonen conducted a genetic analysis of almost 800 Finnish offenders and found some genes may be associated with violent crime
• MAOA gene regulates serotonin and is linked to aggressive behaviour
• CDH13 gene is linked to substance abuse and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• 5-10% of severe violent crime in Finland is attributable to MAOA and CDH13 genotypes

Question 4

What is the Diathesis-stress model (genetic and neural)?

Answer 4

• the influence of genetic are at least partly moderated by the environment
• a tendency towards offending behaviour may come through a combination of genetic predisposition and a trigger

Question 5

What is the Neural Explanation to explaining offending behaviour?

Answer 5

• May be neural differences in the brain between offender and non-offenders
• research revolves around those with APD (antisocial personality disorder) which is associated with reduced emotional responses and a lack of empathy

Question 6

Who conducted research into the pre-frontal cortex?

Answer 6

• Raine conducted studies into the APD brain and reported individuals with APD have reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex (regulates emotional behaviour)
• Raine et al also found an 11% reduction in the volume of grey matter in the prefrontal cortex of those with APD

Question 7

Who conducted research into Mirror Neurons?

Answer 7

• Offenders with APD can experience empathy but less than others
• Keysers found only when asked to empathise did people with APD’s mirror neuron’s (controls empathetic reaction) activate
• suggests they are not totally without empathy but have a ‘switch’ that can be turned on and off