Turning To Crime - Biology Flashcards
What was the aim of Raine’s study?
To take a multi-factorial approach to understanding antisocial and aggressive behaviour in children with a biological focus
Which study was on brain dysfunction?
Raine, understanding the development of antisocial and aggressive behaviour in children
What was the method of Raine’s study?
A review article
What was the procedure of Raine’s study?
To review and summarise the findings from a selection of articles coving neuropsychological, neurological and brain-imaging studies and report the findings as they relate to antisocial behaviour through a child’s development.
What were the results of Raine’s study?
Raine believes that a low resting heart rate is a good predictor of an individual who will seek excitement to raise their arousal level, creating a fearless temperament. There is also research suggesting that the adolescent brain is still forming its final connections in the pre-frontal lobes right up until the army twenties. Activity in the pre-frontal lobes has shown to be lower in impulsive individuals who are likely to be antisocial and aggressive. Birth complications and poor parenting with physical abuse and malnutrition, smoking and drinking during pregnancy all add to the risk.
What was the conclusion of Raine’s study?
Early intervention and prevention may be an effective way of reversing biological deficits that predispose to antisocial and aggressive behaviour.
What was the study on genes and serotonin?
Brunner, a study of violence in a family with genetic abnormality
What was the aim of Brunner’s study?
To explain the behaviour of a large family in the Netherlands where the males are affected by a syndrome of borderline mental retardation and abnormal violent behaviour. These included impulsive aggression, arson, attempted rape and exhibitionism.
Who were the participants in Brunner’s study?
5 affected males in the family.
What was the method of Brunner’s study?
Analysis of urine samples over a 24-hour period
What were the results of Brunner’s study?
Disturbed monoamine metabolism associated with a defect of the enzyme monoamine oxidase A (MAOA). In each of the five males a point mutation was identified on the X chromosome of the gene responsible for production MAOA.
What was the conclusion of Brunner’s study?
MAOA is involved in serotonin metabolism. The defect in the gene leading to impaired serotonin metabolism is likely to be responsible for the mental retardation in the family and this in turn may account for the violent behaviour. The MAOA deficiency was associated with a recognisable behavioural phenotype that accounted for their ability to regulate their aggression. However, not all the males in the family were affected by the violent behaviour, even when they suffered the mental retardation. In addition, this is an extremely rare condition and cannot be generalised.
What study was on gender?
Daly and Wilson, investigation of gender-related life expectancy.
What was the aim of Daly and Wilson’s study?
To find out if homicide rates would vary as a function of local life expectancy in Chicago (divided into 77 neighbourhoods with relatively stable boundaries and social and economic characteristics)
What was the method of Daly and Wilson’s study?
A correlational study using survey data from police records, school records and local demographic records collected by population census.
