What makes a criminal? Flashcards
What are the 5 main factors?
- genetics
- brain structure
- learning
- cognition
- upbringing
What are the two branches of explanation for what makes a criminal?
physiological & non-physiological
What are the physiological explanations for what makes a criminal?
genetics and brain dysfunction
What are the non-physiological explanations for what makes a criminal?
learning, upbringing, and cognition
What is the main brain structure related to brain dysfunction?
PRE-FRONTAL CORTEX
What is the role of the pre-frontal cortex?
- impulse control
- self control
How does the pre-frontal cortex relate to crime?
low arousal (activity) means that pre-frontal cortex abilities are impaired = lack self control and extremely impulsive
What is the metaphor for the pre-frontal cortex?
emergency break on behaviour = gone in violent offenders
What are Raine’s views on using biological explanations for criminal behaviour?
- biology is NOT the only factor that influences criminal behaviour
- does NOT excuse criminal behaviour & responsibility should be taken
- BIOSOCIAL
What other areas of the brain are implicated in brain dysfunction (& how)?
- Amygdala = fear / emotions
- Temporal Lobe = language, memory & learning
- Limbic system = aggressive urges
What is the gene associated with criminal behaviour?
Warrior gene (MAOA)
What is the MAOA gene related to?
aggressive and violent criminal behaviour
What does low MAOA activity link to in criminals?
increase susceptibility to anti social traits and aggression = a risk factor for criminal behaviour
What is the key research for the genetic explanation?
Brunner
What is Brunner’s research into genetics?
- genetic counselling
- case study
- genetic mutation in maternal line (mutation on X chromosome)
- Brunner syndrome
- males cannot produce MAOA
- 5 urine samples
What are the strengths to the physiological explanations of crime?
- scientific
- reliable
What are the weaknesses of the physiological explanations of crime?
- deterministic = socially sensitive
- lacks ecological validity
- reductionist
What are the childhood risk factors for crime?
- measures of family criminality
- daring or risk taking
- low school attainment
- poverty
- poor parenting
What is the piece of research that relates to upbringing?
Farrington
What is Farrington’s research into upbringing?
- Cambridge study into delinquent development
- 411 boys who were aged 8 (at time of study starting)
- interviewed the boys as boys, adolescents, and adults
What is the piece of research that relates to learning?
Sutherland
What is Sutherland’s research into learning?
- more contact with someone who has attitudes favourable to criminal activity the more criminal behaviour they themselves will commit
- white collar crimes e.g., fiddling expenses or tax fraud
- basis that ‘everybody does it’
What is the piece of research that relates to cognitive?
Palmer & Hollin
What is Palmer and Hollin’s research into cognition?
- operation at an immature level of moral reasoning
- Kohlbergian preconventional stage of moral reasoning
- actions judged by outcomes for themselves
What are the strengths of the upbringing explanation?
- longitudinal aspect = removes individual differences = increases validity
- very useful and has practical applications = decrease crime
What are the weaknesses of the upbringing explanation?
- not scientific
- ethical issues as children are often used = lack of informed consent
- socially sensitive as it blames parents
What are the strengths of the learning explanation?
- use of lab experiments = more scientific and causality can be established
- practical applications = useful
What are the weaknesses of the learning explanation?
- lack ecological validity (lab experiments)
- deterministic - removes free will
- reductionist as it ignores internal mental processes
What are the weaknesses of the cognitive explanation?
- cognition/ the mind cannot be seen = decreases scientific and validity
What areas do the non-physiological explanations link to?
- cognitive = cognitive area
- upbringing = developmental area
- learning = behaviourist perspective
What is the key research for what makes a criminal?
Raine
What does rain focus on?
physiological explanations of crime
Why is it important to know what causes criminal behaviour?
prevention and treatment of criminal offending
