Genetic And neural explanations

Question 1

What is the genetic explanation for crime

Answer 1

It suggests criminals inherit a gene or multiple genes that predispose them to commit crime.

Criminal behaviour could be polygenic and has no single gene responsible for criminal behaviour. The evens thought responsible for criminal behaviour are called candidate genes.

Question 2

Candidate genes for criminal behaviour

Answer 2

• ) the MAOA gene controls dopamine and serotonin in the brain, it is linked to aggressive behaviour.
• ) The CDH13 gene has been linked with substance abuse and attention deficit disorder.

Finnish examples with this high risk combination of genes were 13 times more likely to have a history of violent behaviour compared to a large group.

Question 3

Neural explanation of crime

Answer 3

This suggests there may be neural differences in the brains of criminals compared with non criminals, much of the evidence for this is from investigations into people with anti social personality disorder.It is associated with a lack of empathy and reduced emotional responses.

Brain imaging studies show that people with anti social personality disorders have reduced activity in the pre frontal cortexes which controls emotional behaviour , studies have shown people with APD have a 11% reduction in grey matter in the prefrontal cortex.

Empathy reactions are controlled by mirror neurons, studies have shown that people with APD watching a movie could empathise with the people in the film they could if they were told to suggesting they can empathise but their brains need to trigger a neural switch.

Question 4

Strengths of genetic and neural explanations

Answer 4

It has research support, a study with 13 monozygotic twin pairs and 17 dizygotic twin pairs. At least one twin in each pair had served time in prison, 10 of the 13 monozygotic twin pairs had twins that both went to prison this was the case for 2 out of the 17 dizygotic twins.

Question 5

Weakness of the genetic and neural explanation

Answer 5

• ) concordance gates in MZ twins are generally not high and leave real, for plenty of genetic and environmental factors, concordance rates could be due to shared learning rather then genetics
• ) Brain scanning studies such as Raine show pathology in the brains of criminal psychopaths but cannot conclude wether these abnormalities are genetic or signs of early abuse.
• ) the term offending behaviour is vague and some crimes such as physical aggression may be more biological then others.
• ) it is also biologically reductionist a criminality is complex and while criminal behaviour seems to run in families so does poverty, mental illness and social deprivation.Twin studies never have 100% concordance rates is genetic factors can’t be the only explanation .
• ) it is also biologically deterministic so if someone commits crimes due to their genes then they do not have a personal or moral responsibility for their crime, it is unethical to punish someone who does not have free will.