What makes a criminal?

Question 1

Reasons for criminal behaviour

Answer 1

• Brain dysfunction
• Mental health issues
• Addictions
• Genetics
• Surroundings (SLT)

Question 2

Brunner’s Aim

Answer 2

Use gene linkage analysis to follow a single gene through a particular family to track a disorder and provide a genetic explanation for crime.

Question 3

Brunner’s Sample

Answer 3

Large dutch family where many of the men had a history of criminal behaviour.

Question 4

Brunner’s Procedure

Answer 4

Analysed urine samples over 24 hours, indicated enzyme production and any genetic mutations.

Question 5

Brunner’s Results

Answer 5

Mutated gene on the X chromosome lowering the production of MAO-A enzyme. This meant serotonin and adrenaline were not being broken down properly.

Question 6

What Brunner’s study suggested

Answer 6

Increased levels of serotonin and adrenaline linked to aggressive and deviant behaviours explaining crime.

Question 7

Caspi’s Aim

Answer 7

To look into the effects of upbringing along with the decreased levels of MAO-A

Question 8

Caspi’s Sample

Answer 8

500 male students from New Zealand

Question 9

Caspi’s Results

Answer 9

Found that students who had low levels of MAO-A were significantly more likely to be antisocial, this was enhanced by a damaging environmental upbringing.

Question 10

Suggestions made after Caspi’s study

Answer 10

That there is an interaction between genes and the environment that determine aggressive behaviour

Question 11

Farrington’s Aim

Answer 11

Investigate whether problem families produce problematic children. Such as divorced parents and siblings with convictions

Question 12

Farrington’s Sample and Procedure

Answer 12

411 London boys aged 8 up until they were 46, longitudinal. The boys were interviewed as well as mothers and teachers.

Question 13

Farrington’s Results

Answer 13

Those who were more exposed to more problems became more problematic. He argued there to be a cumulative effect as individually had a small effect.

Question 14

Farrington’s risk factors

Answer 14

• Divorced Parents led to lack of a role model
• Family with other convictions led to imitated behaviour
• Poor eduction meant they can’t provide for themselves
• Malnutrition means poor cognitive development

Question 15

Farrington suggestions

Answer 15

That many environmental factors can lead to a prediction of criminal behaviours

Question 16

Farrington Pro’s

Answer 16

• Longtidudinal so no individual differences
• Large sample
• Interactionist with parents and teachers
• Ecologically valid

Question 17

Farrington Con’s

Answer 17

• Low generalisability, androcentric
• Ethnocentric
• Reductionist
• Social desirability bias

Question 18

Raine’s Aim

Answer 18

Analyse levels of brain dysfunction using PET scans of murders who have pleaded NGRI

Question 19

Raine’s Sample

Answer 19

41 murderers matched with 41 non murderers, based on age, gender and schizophrenia. Also kept drug free for 2 weeks. Was a quasi experiment.

Question 20

Raine’s Method

Answer 20

Used a PET scanner and injected harmless radioactive material. Asked to do continuous performance tasks for 32 minutes. The radioactive material bonds with glucose but its left behind after its used indicting patterns of activity.

Question 21

Prefrontal Cortex

Answer 21

Emotional expression, understanding implications in a situation

Question 22

Amygdala

Answer 22

Processes fear in the brain

Question 23

Parietal Cortex

Answer 23

Controls verbal ability and education levels

Question 24

Raine’s Results

Answer 24

• Less activity in prefrontal cortex in murderers, less emotional expression
• Less activity in parietal cortex meaning lower verbal ability
• Less activity in the Amygdala so less able to process fear

Question 25

What Raine’s research suggested

Answer 25

That brain dysfunction may be a contributing factor to violent criminal behaviours.

Question 26

Pros of Raine’s research

Answer 26

• High control of extraneous variables
• Useful applications
• Objective quantitate data
• Standardised procedure
• Ethical as its a quasi

Question 27

Con’s of Raines research

Answer 27

• Taken of drugs could be ethical issue
• Ecological validity
• Socially sensitive
• Lacks generalisability
• Lacks qualitative data
• Reductionist

Question 28

Application of Biological Strategies

Answer 28

Raine created a three part intervention programme based on Nutrition, Physical Exercise, Cognitive Stimulation. Found that intervention reduced crime by what he argued as 35%. Follow up study also showed omega 3 supplements reduced aggression.