L2 - Theories of Crime Flashcards
What are the associated disciplines of forensic psychology?
- Law
- Psychiatry
- Sociology
- Criminal Justice
- Criminology
What is a theory?
A theory is a systematic way of making sense of some phenomenon, enabling us to interpret, reconstruct, explain and predict.
How is a scientific theory processed?
- Describe a phenomenon of interest
- Infer the underlying cause
- Predict imminent future events
Finish this statement:
Forensic psychology is “_______________ ___________ _________________ ______________ _______________ ________”
Milner, 2013, p15.
“How and why n individual engages in criminal behaviour”
What does ‘theoretical underpinning’ state?
Theoretically, there is a various branch that has borrowed multiple areas of psychology.
Theory - why do people commit crime?
Crime is committed due to various and to unspecified factors, this could be: Money Corruption Greed etc...
What is the biological factor of crime?
The biological theory states:
40% sons of fathers with criminal records followed suit (Osborn and West, 1979)
Monozygotic twins > dizygotic concordance for criminality (Lange, 1931; Chistiansen, 1977)
Some link adoptees and natural parents (Mednick, Gabrielli & Hutchings, 1994; Walters,1992)
The biological factor of crime states:
Genetic is not cause…
Serotonin - …
Enzymes - …
Genetic is not cause by criminality, but susceptible to slow autonomic nervous system therefore slow to control impulsive behaviour (Mednick, 1977)
Serotonin - maintain mood balance
Enzymes - higher levels of aggression
Miller (1999) states:
“Greater rates in offender groups, have more frequent loss of consciousness”
“Consistent increase in offending post injury”
What does abnormal electrical activity in the brain cause?
Aggression and violent to be committed.
Violent crime have been caused to the biological factor:
Birth difficulties and early brain damage
