Topic 2.1- Brain Abnormality(Biological)

Question 1

Brain Diseases

Answer 1

Diseases and damage to the nerves which can be linked to destructiveness, impulsiveness, arson and abnormal sexual behaviour.

Question 2

Brain Damage / Injury, how does it effect criminality?

Answer 2

.damage to the pre- frontal cortex of the brain can cause altered behaviour
.making them more immature and having loss of control

Question 3

Brain Dysfunction

Answer 3

Abnormal brain wave activity has been found in murderers.
.murderers are shown to have a 11% decrease in activity of the pre- frontal cortex region

Question 4

Phineas Gage what happened to him?

Answer 4

He survived an accident in which a large iron rod went through his head, destroying most of his left frontal lobe of the brain.

Question 5

How did Phineas Gage’s personality change before and after the accident?

Answer 5

He became extravagant and anti social, persistently used bad language and had bad manners.

Question 6

How did this show evidence that brain injury can effect criminality?

Answer 6

They discovered that the part of the brain which he had lost was associated to the control of mental and emotional functions.

Question 7

Strengths of this theory

Answer 7

.brain injury and disease has led to major changes in individuals personality and behaviour
.sufferer’s original personality is more important when engaging in crime
.correlation between abnormal brain scans and psychopathic criminality
.prisoners’ higher likelihood of brain injury could be a result of their criminality

Question 8

Limitations of this theory

Answer 8

.Crimes caused by brain injury or disease are rare
.not clear that abnormal brainwave activity cause psychopathic criminality