biological determinism

• the biological explanation of offending suggests that biological factors cause offending behaviour

  • genetic and neural explanations
• BRUNNER et al analysed the DNA of 28 male members of a Dutch family who had history of violent criminal behaviour such as rape and murder
• the found that they shared a variation of the MAOA gene which led to abnormally low levels of MAOA (monoamine oxidase)
• MAOA is the enzyme responsible for breaking down certain neurotransmitters in the brain, suggesting that inheriting the specific version of the MAOA gene can cause criminal behaviour
• neurological factors were studied by RAINE who cited 71 brain studies that show murderers and psychopaths have reduced functioning in the prefrontal cortex.
• the prefrontal cortex is involved in managing emotion and control of behaviour, so reduced activity would lead to impulsive behaviour

  • suggesting that certain types of activity in the prefrontal cortex may make someone more likely to become a pyschopath