Raine (Classic) Flashcards
What was the aim of Raine’s study?
To see if the activity of a murders (NGRI) brain was different to that of a non-murder in the prefrontal cortex.
What was the sample for Raine’s study?
41 people charged with murder (NGRI)
-2 females.
-6 people with schizophrenia.
-Matched pairs control group (age, gender, mental illness).
What method did Raine use in his study?
-Each participant has a visual practice test.
-A tracer was injected.
-Completed the visual test again.
-A PET scan was carried out to see activity in the prefrontal cortex.
What was 3 results or Raine’s study?
-The prefrontal lobe in murders was less active than non-murders.
-No differnece in temporal lobe activity.
-Corpus callosum had lower activity in murders.
What was the conclusion of Raine’s study?
Areas that had abnormal activity were associated with lower self-control and increased aggression so brains of murders were different from that of non-murders.
What is the IV?
Whether the person is a murder (NGRI) or a non-murder.
What is the DV?
Brain activity as measured by a PET scan.
Why is the study not generalisable?
-Not a big enough sample as a whole so doesn’t represent murders who are not insane.
-Only 2 women out of 41 people so androcentric sample and not representative.
Why is the study reliable?
Has a standardised procedure(PET scan) and it is easy to repeat so more reliable.
How can the study be applied to real life?
-Can screen people for potential murders with a PET scan.
-Remove an environmental triggers to stop them committing the crime.
How is the study valid?
-Matched pairs minimise participant variables (age, gender, mental illness.)
-So can be sure IV is affecting DV so more valid.
Why is the study not ethical and which ethical guidelines does it break?
-Protection from harm- tracer injected is radioactive and invasive.
-Informed consent-insanity prevents them from fully understanding the study.
-Right to withdraw- if they don’t understand they are in a study due to insanity they will not know to leave if they want to.
