Neaural Explanations Of Offending Behaviour

Question 1

Neural mechanisms

Answer 1

• Limbic system

- influence many of our social behaviours - motivation and emotions

Question 2

Raine et al (2000)

Answer 2

-Structural evidence
- Studied 21 individuals with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)
- Compared then to matched groups of substance users and a non-offending control group.
= 11% reduction in size of orbital prefrontal cortex in ASPD group.
- Area considered to be critical in managing the neural networks weep citer with emotions and behaviour

Question 3

Laakso et al (2002)

Answer 3

• Structural evidence

= ASPD groups had smaller temporal lobes compared to control groups

Question 4

Sterzer et al (2005)

Answer 4

• Structural evidence

= Reduced gey-matter volumes in adolescent samples who had been diagnosed with ‘conduct disorder’

Question 5

Schiffer et al (2007)

Answer 5

• Structural evidence

= Paedophile men have less grey-matter volume than comparison groups of heterosexual and homosexual men.

Question 6

Brain damage and offending behaviour

Answer 6

Can result in more offending types of behaviour

• Problems at birth (prenatal damage)
• Subsequent accidents and injuries

Question 7

Functional evidence;

Answer 7

• Neural circuitry
• Executive functioning
• EEG activity

Question 8

Neural circuitry

Answer 8

• Blair (2003) = Psychopathic characteristics reflect abnormal functioning in the neural circuitry involving the amygdala and prefrontal cortex.
• Birbaumer et al (2005) = supported this - study with conditioning tasks with a sample of psychopaths
  = Lack of amygdala neural activity = little fear or emotional response = easier to offend.
• Reduced emotional response = found in a number of other well-controlled studies with adolescents with conduct disorder backgrounds

Question 9

Executive functioning

Answer 9

• Another functional area of interest in this area.
  = High order cognitive control processes; decision making and inhibition.
• Extensive neuroimaging research = lateral prefrontal cortex - important role in executive functioning.

Question 10

Morgan and Lilienfeld (2000)

Answer 10

• A meta-analysis of 39 studies = relationship between the executive dysfunction and antisocial behaviour
• Significant effect in juvenile delinquency and conduct disorder.
• Supported in studies of adolescent and adult psychopaths.

Question 11

Research - lack of executive functioning?

Answer 11

Individuals lack the ability to plan, act rationally or control their impulses

Question 12

EEG activity

Answer 12

Slower and abnormal EEG activity in children and adolescents = associated with later criminal behaviour.
- EEG abnormalities are in some way linked to cortical immaturity = reduces reasoning and emotional regulation.

Question 13

Evaluation of neural explanations

Answer 13

• Very scientific methodology and measuring techniques.
• Many studies have been replicated

Issues;
- Offending research participants come from poor backgrounds = difficult to establish whether the neural effects are related to that or innate physiological factors.

• Comparison groups can’t be well-matched - different backgrounds
• Brain damage studies flawed - not always possible to establish when and how the damage occurred.

Question 14

Twin and adoption studies evidence?

Answer 14

Possible genetic link to criminal behaviour - contentious

Question 15

Types of evidence?

Answer 15

Structural and functional evidence that neural factors are associated with potential criminal and antisocial behaviour