Physiological explanations of criminal behaviour PDF

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The Historical Explanations on criminal behaviour...

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Historical Explanations Cesare Lombroso One of the first criminologists was Cesare Lombroso who believed that crime is biological and criminals share certain physical characteristics. The more like a primate you looked the more likely you would be to turn to crime. You were born to be a criminal. He proved this theory with pages of pictures of criminals and non-criminals.

Phineas Gage One of the first examples of hoe the brain can influence behaviour. Working on a railway in 1848 he had an accident in which a tamping ion went up through his face, behind his left eye and out through the top of his head. He survived the accident but is personality was changed including a huge increase in aggression. It changed the way doctors viewed human behaviour. Doctors started thinking about damaging the brain is linked to behaviour and is there a brain difference between criminals.

Charles Whitman In 1966 Charles Whitman killed 13 people from an observation tower at Texas University after killing his wife and mother. He left behind a not asking doctors to examine his brain as he was convinced that something was making him aggressive. It was found that he has a brain tumour pressing against his amygdala. In this time there were no brain scans for doctors to look at brains. This case allowed psychology to become more scientific because they could examine his brain because he was dead.

William Sheldon He believed that people could be classified into three body shapes which corresponded with three types of personality. 1. Endomorphic (Fat and soft) – Tend to be sociable and relaxed 2. Ectomorphic (Thin and fragile) – Are introverted and restrained 3. Mesomorphic (Muscular and hard) – Tend to be aggressive and adventurous Sheldon found that many convicts were mesomorphic and they were least likely to be ectomorphic.

Physiological Explanations Explanation 1 = Brain Dysfunction (Raine) Explanation 2 = Genetic Predispositions (Brunner)

Genetic Predispositions Christiansen (1977) Further research has focused on twin studies. He looked at 3568 twins in Denmark. There was a 52% concordance rate for monozygotic (Identical) twins and 22% for dizygotic (Non-identical) twins regarding criminality.

The Case of Stephen Mobley In 1991 he shot and murdered a pizza store manager. His lawyers requested he be tested for a specific genetic mutation related to production of serotonin. They claimed his violent behaviour was genetic and thus should be exonerated. 2 courts disagreed with the claim as there wasn’t enough scientific evidence Brunner might disagree with them….

Brunner (1993) Biological explanations of criminal behaviour – The role of genetics and neurotransmitters in aggressive behaviour. Previous research looking at the relationship between genetics and criminality focused on genetic abnormalities in particular the XYY syndrome. These men were over represented in the prison population. The XYY syndrome also made males that has it taller and have lower IQ. It is also called the warrior gene.

Method A clinical study (Case study) of 5 males in a large family in the Netherlands where the males had a genetic syndrome of borderline mental retardation and abnormal violent behaviour.

Behaviour

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Repeated episodes of aggressive and sometime violent behaviour (Often out of proportion to provocation) Sleep disturbances and night terrors Inappropriate sexual behaviour toward sister and female relatives Arson

Data Collection Data was collected from analysing urine sample over a 24-hour period.

Life Story All 5 affected makes were mentally retarded (Average IQ = 85) Only one of the brothers completed primary education. All unaffected males attended school and were employed. All females, including carriers, appeared normal.

DNA Analysis All affected males showed genetic mutations in the genes producing monoamine oxidase (MAO)

Results The 5 males showed; Distributed monoamine metabolism associated with a deficit of the enzyme monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) which is linked to serotonin production. This means that they were more likely to be mentally retarded (and therefore turn to crime) and less likely to be able to regulate their aggression.

Evaluation + Scientific – more reliable because it uses objective data (urine samples) + Useful – Helps develops research/medication for trial type of antisocial behaviour - Poor generalisability – Its only one family and specific genetic mutation - Reductionist - No cause and effect – aggressive behaviour and serotonin change - Social aspects – Could be what leads to crime e.g. not completing primary school so not learning to control aggression

Issues Free will or Determinism Deterministic:

Our genes/brain structure determines whether or not were going to be a criminal e.g. the warrior gene will make us display anti-social behaviour – same with low prefrontal activity.

Situational or Individual Individual: Our own biology affects criminality e.g. low or high serotonin affects us being a criminal.

Socially Sensitive? Yes: Saying people with low prefrontal activity will be a criminal e.g. way to blame people’s bad behaviour in something beyond their control.

Nature or Nurture Nature: What we’re born with BUT Raine accept that nurture has a role to play

Reductionist? Holisti: Raine said we needed to look at social views as well as the biology Reductionist: This is mainly a good thing because it is scientific and ignores any investigation into environment/upbringing, thought processes etc....