The Amygdala as an explenation of Criminal Behaviour Flashcards
The Amygdala
Amygdala functions
• the amigdala is the emotional center of the brain, ties emotions to memories, regulate emotions, emotional responses to the environment
The Amygdala
Left Amygdala
• the left amygdala colon general emotions, reaction to environmental Cues, more active in fear comma develops early, how to respond
• correct detection: the left and make the look can detect threats in the environments if it’s detects one it will send a signal to the adrenaline gland to release adrenaline to prepare the body for flight or fight
• this causes the body to increase heart rates increase blood to the muscles so they get more oxygen therefore getting the body ready for action however this also gets the body ready for violence
• if this side of the amygdala is damaged or faulty or low in activity (e.g. glucose metabolism rate) it could lead to it detecting false frets and preparing the body for fight or flight when it is not needed this may be combined with aggressive impulses from the right amygdala to cause criminal behaviour (violence)
the amygdala
Right Amygdala
• the right Amygdala: negative emotions such as anger or sadness or aggression, in processing of Fear during stimuli?, anger regulation
• if damaged/ faulty/ high activity (glucose metabolism rate) could result in aggressive impulses and heightened aggression
• develops over time
Amygdala
Evidence +
Hess 1928 cats
Hess 1928
• the electrically stimulated cats amygdalas ( increased aggression towards a fake cat)
• when the electricity stops the aggression decreased
• this gives evidence linking the linked list to aggression slash violent assault therefore supporting the explanation that problems/differences with the amygdala can causes criminal behavior
Amygdala
Evidence - Tihoen 2008
Tihoen 2008
• Compared the brain vol of 26 violent offenders with ASPD and substance abuse issues, against 26 Healthy men
• finds no difference in Vol. of Amygdala
• Sugesting that not all causes of criminal behaviour are due to the Amygdala, therefore opposing the theory that the problems/ differences with the amygdala causes criminal behaviour
• as there was criminal behaviour, but no Amygdala problems
AMYGDALA
How good is the research
Hess 1928 - Animal reseach
Hess 1928
• they use an animal study with cats to electrically stimulate the amygdala
• therefore we cannot be 100% sure that the Amygdala had the same function in people and cats
• this is due to the biological difference between Cat brains and human brains
• and therefore the results that’s the amygdala is related to aggression (leading to crime if damaged increasing it’s activity) cannot be generalized to humans and therefore is bad research to support the explanation that problems /differences with the Amygdala cause criminal behaviour and violence
Amygdala
How good is the research
Tihoen 2008 + Eco
Tihoen 2008
• due to comparing the brain voliume of real violent criminals with ASPD and substance abuse with Real Healthy men
• the results that there is no difference in Amygdala voliume and that therefore not all criminal behaviour is caused by problems in the amygdala can be applied to real life, and is likley to occur in real life (as it has) giving the study High Ecological validity, therefore making it good evidence to opose the explenation that problems/ differences in the amygdala causes criminal behaviour
Amygdala Vs XYY +/-
Howitt 2009 eco Hess 1928 animal
Xyy = SFP Witkin et al 1976
Raine et al 1997
• XYY is better than problems/differences in the Amygdala as an explenation of criminal behaviour due to evidence supporting them
• Howitt (2009) was a review of real life offenders in the prison population that found XYY syndrome was more common in the offender population than the general population, therefore a field study using real life evidence from people giving it high ecological validity and therefore good research to support XYY
• whereas The amygdala has Hess1928 with Electricaly stimulating the amygdala in cats so they attack fake cats and stop when the electricity stops, this is an animal study meaning the findings cant be generalised to humans due to biological differences in the amygdala
• meaning XYY is better than Problems/ differences with the amygdala as it has Better studys to support it as an explenation of criminal behaviour
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• Problems / differences with the Amygdala is a better explenation of Criminal behaviour than XYY syndrome as XYY has been found to only cause criminal behaviour not through genes but due to Self forfilling proficy and labeling of people claiming they are criminals and XYY men internalising these lables and becoming criminals
• as found by witkin et al 1976 XYY were more likley to do crime for social reasons (such as labling and SFP) not biological reasons.
• Therefore due to XYY not actualy causing criminal behaviour (SFP does) , and the amygdala being liked to Aggression through studys such as Raine et al 1997 which found high glucose metabolism rates in the right amygdala (known for negative emotions suchas aggression) of NGRI MURDERERS compared to non- murderers showing a link between the amygdala and aggression, problems/ differences with the amygdala is a better explenation of criminal behaviour than XYY syndrome
Amygdala
Conclusion + ap
Amygdalotomy and post accident therapy
• In conclusion that is sufficient evidence to support that problems/differences of the amygdala causes criminal behavior
• but it is not the only cause as shown by Tihoen
• therefore Problems with the Amygdala is a cause of Criminal behaviour but not the only one
• an aplication is that in extreem cases, violent criminals can have an amygdalaotomy, the removal of the amygdala, this may have side effects such as coldness and lack of empathy due to the amygdala controling emotions
• another aplication is that after an accident with damage may have been done to the amygdala
• you could have a brain scan and your brain to be compared to those with criminals amyglers if there are similarities
• then you could go on to anger management therapy to reduce the chances of aggressive outbursts therefore reducing the chances of committing crime
Amygdala
deterministic and reductionist
james fallon
• this theory is deterministic as James Fallon and his and his family’s brains which his family has a history of crime
• • James was the only one with a “criminal brain” ( Including a Damaged/ fifferent functioning Amygdala) however he had never committed a crime as his mother had taught him morals
• meaning that just because they have a criminal brain does not make somebody a criminal as there are other factors involved
• makes the study deterministic as it states that due to James Fallon having a criminal brain he should be a criminal despite him not being, simular to the theory stating if you have damage or other problems with your amygdala you will do criminal behavour,
• but as james fallon has shown, this isnt the only factor that determins if someone becomes a criminal/ does criminal behaviour as he was taught morals and he didnt, despite him having a “Criminal brain” meaning it is also a Reductionist theory
• therefore making the theory that problems/ differences with the amygdala causes criminal behaviour, deterministic and reductionist
