Criminal and Forensic Psychology lecture 2 --> Biological Basis of Criminal Behaviour - Modern Theories and Biosocial Perspectives

?
View mindmap
  • Biological Basis of Criminal Behaviour - Modern Theories and Biosocial Perspectives
    • Background
      • Biosocial theory places emphasis on the connection between biology and the environment
    • Evolutionary Perspectives
      • Darwin - natural selection - traits that are most beneficial are passed down
        • eg. aggression - stronger males = more female, more food + water, shelter etc --> beneficial to the individual therefore it has been passed down
      • crime often concentrated in families
        • having a parent is a strong correlate of criminality
        • assortive mating - individuals mate with people similar to them
          • similar personality, AS behav and intelligence
    • Behavioural Genetics
      • examines rel between genes and environment (origin of individual diffs)
      • examines extent to which a gene can influence a specific psychological trait (aka degree of heritability of crime)
      • GENES DO NOT CAUSE CRIMINALITY - environmental stimuli may dispose a gene
      • aggression, anger, impulsivity, low empathy may increase crim behav
        • aggression, self-control and AS behav found to be stable over time
          • stable traits = early interventions?
      • ADOPTION STUDIES
        • Hutchings and Mednick
          • criminal record of bio parents (more than ad parents) predicted future crim behav
        • Kendler
          • adopted children = increased risk when bio parents had one or more crim behav
          • genetic risk (eg drug abuse) and environmental risk (eg. divorce) predicted crim behav
      • TWIN STUDIES
        • Lange
          • 30 male prisoners - MZ = 77% had a crim brother, DZ = 12%
        • Minnesota Twin Study - Bouchard
          • although being raised separately, MZ twins =very similar personality, crim behav and AS behav
      • ACE model
        • meta-analysis found low S-C, agg and AS behav were dominated by genes (60-95%
    • Molecular Genetics
      • examines specific genes, proteins, enzymes, and genetic combinations and how they interact with environmental stimuli
      • Human Genome Project
      • MAOA
        • breaks down neurotransmitters in the brain (dopamine, serotonin)
        • low activity of MAOA associated with crim behav
        • combination of low MAOA + abuse/neglect in childhood = 10x more likely criminality
          • more likely than those with just low MAOA or abuse / neglect
          • these individs made up 12% of the study but were responsible for 44% of violent crimes
        • Fergusson
          • low MAOA in males who join gangs
        • Untitled
        • high testosterone, maternal tobacco smoking during preg, poor living standards, dropping out of school, and low IQ associated with LOW MAOA
        • more HYPOsensitive or HYPERsensitive?
        • low MAOA indivds had higher dACC activity (reponsible for rejection or status challenges)
    • The Brain
      • localisation and criminality
        • limbic system - emotional and impulsive reactions (amygdala)
        • frontal lobe - executive functions (impulsive control, consequence evaluation)
      • Charles Whitman (Texas Tower Sniper)
        • had a brain tumour pressing on his amygdala
        • had seen a dcotor about 'overwhelming violent impulses'
      • extreme emotional neglect = brain abnormalities and cognitively under-developed (Romanian orphans)
      • long term alcohol / drug abuse can alter brain structure
      • individual diffs in brain structures

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Criminology resources:

See all Criminology resources »See all Criminal and Forensic Psychology resources »