Lesson 4 - Genetic and Neural explanations

Question 1

What is the genetic explanation for crime

Answer 1

offenders inherit a gene that predisposes them to commit crime

Question 2

what did Lange investigate

Answer 2

13 MZ twins and 17 DZ twins
in MZ 10/13 served time
in DZ only 2/17 with served time

Question 3

criminal behaviour could be polygenic definition

Answer 3

no one single gene is responsible for offending

Question 4

candidate genes

Answer 4

the genes responsible for causing offending behaviour

Question 5

what does the MAOA gene control

Answer 5

dopamine and serotonin
- it’s linked to aggressive behaviour

Question 6

what has the CDH13 gene been linked to

Answer 6

substance abuse and attention deficit disorder

Question 7

diathesis stress model

Answer 7

genetics influence criminal behaviour but this is moderated by the effects of the environment

Question 8

Anti-social personality disorder

Answer 8

reduced emotional responses and a lack of empathy.
this characterises many criminals

Question 9

what does brain imaging show for APD

Answer 9

reduced activity in the pre frontal cortex , the area that regulates emotional behaviour

Question 10

Keysers et al research about mirror neurons

Answer 10

criminals with APD can experience empathy but they do it more sporadically. APD individuals are not totally without empathy but may have a neural switch that needs to be on to experience it.

Question 11

• eval of genetic and neural explanations

Answer 11

• concordance rates in MZ twins is not high and leave plenty of room for non genetic environmental factors
• brain scans can’t conclude whether abnormalities are genetic or early signs of abuse
• “offending behaviour” is too vague , some specific forms of crime may be more biological than others
  -biologically deterministic , if someone has a gene that makes them criminal they don’t have free will