Historical approach to offending behaviour (ATAVISTIC, GENETIC, NUERAL.) Flashcards
what is the historical approach to offending? AO1
Lombroso suggested criminals were GENETIC THROWBACKS, a sub-species biologically DIFFERENT from non-criminals who LACKED evolutionary development. Their UNTAMED nature meant they would find it IMPOSSIBLE to adjust to the demands of a CIVILISED society and so, INEVITABLY turn to crime.
what are the atavistic characteristics that make criminals DIFF from non-criminals?
CRANIAL: narror sloping brow, sharp jaw, high cheekbones.
Murderers: bloodshot eyes, curly hair.
Sexual deviants: glinting eyes, swollen lips.
NON-physical characteristics: insensitivity to pain, tattoos and unemployment.
what RESERACH did Lombroso do for the ATAVISTIC approach?
EXAMINED facial and cranial characteristics of 100’s ITALIAN convicts living and dead.
FOUND: atavistic form ASSOCIATED with a number of physical anomalies indicating criminality and SKULLS of 383 dead crims and 3839 LIVING crims found 40% of criminal acts could be accounted by atavistic characteristics.
what is the genetic explanation of crime?
offender INHERIT a gene that make them commit crimes.
what are the TWO genetic explanations of offending behaviour?
Twin studies
candidate genes
Genetic explanation:
What is the twin studies theory?
*LANGE 13 MZ twins 17 DZ twins where one had been IN prison.
*Concordance rate 76% MZ, 12% DZ twins
GENETIC EXPLANATION: what is the candidate gene study?
*genetic analysis of 900 offenders revealed ABNORMALITIES in 2 genes making 13X MORE likely to have a history of VIOLENT behaviour.
*MAOA gene controls DOPAMINE and SEROTONIN. Low activity leads to AGGRESSION.
*CDH13 gene involved in NEURAL communication does NOT function correctly this is linked to SUBSTANCE abuse and ADHD
what are nueral explanations of criminal behaviour?
suggests that there are nueral DIFFERENCES in the brains of criminals and NON-criminals.
Research focused on those with APD where they have LOW empathy and emotion, a condition a LOT of offenders have.
what are the TWO nueral explanations to offending behaviour?
pre-frontal cortex
Mirror nuerons.
nueral explanation:
Prefrontal cortex
Raine found individuals with APD had REDUCED activity in their pre-frontal cortex which REGULATES emotional behaviour and an 11% reduction in the VOLUME of grey matter i the prefrontal cortex than NON APD people.
nueral explanations:
Mirror Nuerons
KEYSERS found individuals with APD that were criminals could only empathise when ASKED. Apd individuals mirror nuerons SWITCH on an doff whereas a NORMAL brain empathy is PERMENANTLY turned on.
