biological explanation

• what are the 2 biological explanations to criminal behaviour?

  1. genetic
  2. neural
• outline the role of genes

  genes consist of DNA which instructs the body on how to grow and develop

  • determines neuroanatomy and biochemistry
• what does the genetic explanation suggest?

  particular genes are associated with criminal behaviour
• who studied twin studies for the genetic explanation?

  Lange in 1930
• outline Lange's findings about twin studies

  used 13 MZ twins and 17 DZ twins where one twin had served time in prison

  • 10 MZ twins and 2 DZ twins had a co-twin in prison
• who used adoption studies to research genetic explanation?

  Crowe in 1972
• outline Crowe's findings about adoption studies

  • adopted children whose biological parent had a criminal record, had a 50% risk of having a record by 18
  • adopted children whose parent didn't have a record, had a 5% risk
• what are the 2 main principles of the genetic explanation?

  1. candidate genes
  2. diathesis-stress model
• who researched candidate genes?

  Tiihonen et al in 2014
• outline the findings of Tiihonen et al's study into candidate genes

  • MAOA gene linked to dopamine, serotonin and aggressive behaviour
  • CDH13 gene linked to ADHD
  • associated with violent crimes

  findings haven't been replicated yet
• explain the diathesis-stress model

  tendency for criminal behaviour to have an environmental trigger

  • e.g. traumatic or dysfunctional childhood
• what do neural explanations consider?

  structure and workings of the brain are linked to criminal behaviour
• what's the basis for the research for neural explanations?

  antisocial personality disorder

  • reduced emotional responses and lack of empathy
• what are the main 2 parts of the neural explanation?

  1. prefrontal cortex
  2. mirror neurons
• who studied the prefrontal cortex for the neural explanation?

  Raine in 2000
• outline the findings of Raine's study into the prefrontal cortex

  conducted brain imaging on individuals with antisocial personalities

  • individuals with APD had 11% less brain matter in prefrontal cortex
• what's the role of the prefrontal cortex?

  regulation of emotional behaviour
• who studied mirror neurons as part of the neural explanation?

  Keysers et al in 2011
• outline the findings of Keysers et al's study on mirror neurons

  when criminals had to empathise with someone on film, the empathy reaction was activated

  • this was controlled by mirror neurons
  • those with APD are capable of empathy but it's a process that can be switched on and off
• evaluate the biological explanation of offending behaviour

  • twin studies use small sample sizes and Lange's research may not be controlled which reduces validity, twins also share environments which could influence results

  
  

  • Mednick et al found out of 13,000 adoptees, 13.5% had convictions without biological parent having one, 20% had conviction if 1 parent had a record and 24.5% if both parents did, supports genetic basis

  
  

  • deterministic explanation, implications for responsibility as can be used as a defence, unethical as limits responsibility put on offenders