Research on animals cannot be generalised. There are other factors involved in impulse control and violence so it is difficult to make a causal link and individual differences are not taken into account.
Back
Card 27
Front
Biochemical explanations are reductionist as they simplify criminal behaviour. It is likely the issue is far more complex than level of biochemicals in the brain.
Back
Card 28
Front
APD is associated with reduced emotional responses, a lack of empathy for the feelings of others. Research on APD brain found reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that regulates emotional behaviour.
Back
Card 29
Front
The limbic system is a central part of the brain where emotions are modulated. Criminal psychopaths have problems processing emotions and empathy and so have a lack of remote and guilt due to faults in the limbic system.
Back
Card 30
Front
A clear link between abnormal process and crime may not be appropriate, it could be due to brain trauma however not everyone with head injury commits crime so cause and effect is not clear. Individual differences.
Back
Card 31
Front
Sample sizes are small and target populations are hard to access. Using scanning techniques are time consuming and expensive. This effects the extent to which results can be generalised.
Back
Card 32
Front
All personality types including the criminal personality have an innate biological basis. Extraverts have an under active nervous system which means they constantly seek excitement, stimulation and are likely to engage in risk taking behaviours.
Back
Card 33
Front
The criminal personality is neurotic-extravert and a typical offender will also score highly on measures of psychoticism characterised by cold, unemotional and prone to aggression.
Back
Card 34
Front
Personality is also linked to criminal behaviour via socialisation processes. Criminal behaviour is developmentally immature, selfish and concerned with immediate gratification. Impatient and cannot wait for things.
Back
Card 35
Front
They therefore do not easily learn to respond to antisocial impulses with anxiety. More likely to act antisocially where the opportunity presents itself.
