Criminal Psychology - ALL NOTES

• How do acquired brain injuries affect cognitive abilities?

  They impair impulse control
• What is a consequence of brain injury on development?

  Development is negatively affected
• How can brain injuries link to criminal behavior?

  They may lead to risk-taking and impulsivity
• What type of decision-making is linked to brain injuries and crime?

  Poor decision-making
• What did Bower and Price (2001) find regarding brain injuries?

  Frontal lobe injuries linked to anti-social behavior
• Which brain regions are damaged in juvenile delinquents?

  Temporal lobe, amygdala, hypothalamus
• What causes traumatic brain injury (TBI)?

  Direct trauma to the brain
• What type of aggression is associated with damage to the orbitofrontal cortex?

  Impulsive aggression
• Who is at higher risk for traumatic brain injury?

  Young males
• How can long-term alcohol or drug use affect the brain?

  It can lead to traumatic brain injury
• Until what age is the brain considered not fully developed?

  25 years
• What did Williams et al (2010) find regarding inmates and brain injuries?

  60% recalled injuries in youth
• What is the risk of reoffending related to head injuries?

  Higher if hit 3 or more times
• What intervention is suggested for brain injury awareness?

  Neuro-rehabilitation
• What does Williams et al (2010) support regarding brain injury?

  It leads to lack of impulse control
• What percentage of individuals with brain injury committed violent crime according to Fazel et al (2001)?

  1. 8%
• What is the comparison of violent crime rates between brain injury sufferers and controls?

  1. 8% vs 3%
• What do studies by Rain show about the frontal lobe?

  It impacts aggression
• What are the strengths of research on brain injury and crime?

  • Research evidence supports links to criminal behavior
  • Case studies provide reliability and credibility
  • Brain scans can be reproduced for consistent results
• What are the weaknesses of research on brain injury and crime?

  • Correlational research limits cause and effect conclusions
  • Reductionist approach ignores other influencing factors
• What is the role of the amygdala in the brain?

  Controls human emotions
• What happens when the amygdala is damaged?

  Emotional control is impaired
• How does a smaller amygdala relate to psychopathy?

  Linked to increased aggression
• What did Raine et al find regarding NGRI murderers?

  Less activity in left amygdala
• What did Yang (2009) find about psychopathic tendencies?

  Smaller amygdala size
• What is sham rage in relation to the amygdala?

  Electrical stimulation causes aggression
• What happens when the amygdala is ablated?

  Rats become more placid
• What are the strengths of research on the amygdala and aggression?

  • Yang (2009) shows smaller amygdala links to aggression
  • Pardini et al (2014) found smaller amygdalae predict violent behavior
• What are the weaknesses of research on the amygdala and aggression?

  • Human research limitations affect conclusions
  • Size and activity of amygdala may vary
  • Inter-relationship with other brain areas complicates findings
• What is XYY syndrome?

  Genetic condition with extra Y chromosome
• How common is XYY syndrome in males?

  1 in 1000 males
• What are some characteristics of males with XYY syndrome?

  Tall, muscular, learning disabilities
• How does XYY syndrome relate to aggression?

  Men with XYY are more aggressive
• What did Theilgard (1984) find about XYY males?

  Lower intelligence and more aggression
• What did Birkhoff find regarding XYY syndrome?

  No conclusive link to anti-social behavior
• What are the strengths of research on XYY syndrome?

  • Early intervention possible before birth
  • Predicts emotional or social development issues
• What are the weaknesses of research on XYY syndrome?

  • Reductionist view on deviant behavior
  • Extra Y chromosome is only a risk factor
• What does the PEN personality model include?

  Psychoticism, Extraversion, Neuroticism
• How does high psychoticism relate to behavior?

  Linked to hostility and aggression
• How does high neuroticism affect individuals?

  Causes mood instability and anxiety