Genetic and Neural Explanations

• What was the concordance rate of criminality for MZ male twins in Christiansen's twin study?

  35%
• What was the concordance rate of criminality for DZ female twins in Christiansen's twin study?

  8%
• What did Crowe's adoption study find about children of biological mothers with criminal records?

  Almost 50% had a criminal record
• How did the criminal record rate of children with non-criminal biological mothers compare in Crowe's study?

  Only 5% had been convicted
• What does the MAOA gene affect?

  Levels of Monoamine Oxidase A
• What is the role of Monoamine Oxidase A in the body?

  It breaks down key neurotransmitters
• How does the MAOA gene influence behavior?

  It increases propensity for violent behavior
• What did Brunner's case study reveal about the males studied?

  They had a mutation in the MAOA gene
• What limitation did Brunner's study have regarding its sample?

  It had a small sample size
• What brain areas did Raine find less activity in among murderers?

  Pre-frontal and parietal areas
• What was found to have increased activity in murderers according to Raine's study?

  Occipital areas of the cortex
• What emotional response might differences in the amygdala cause according to Raine?

  Lack of fear
• What is the limbic system associated with?

  Emotion and motivation
• What do mirror neurons activate in response to?

  Empathising with others
• How do empathy reactions differ in criminals compared to non-criminals?

  Criminals' reactions are not automatic
• What neurotransmitter is linked to the dopaminergic pathway?

  Dopamine
• What effect does dopamine have on behavior according to Couppis?

  It creates a desire to repeat behaviors
• What are the key findings of Christiansen's twin study?

  • 3,500 twin pairs studied
  • MZ male twins: 35% concordance rate
  • DZ male twins: 13% concordance rate
  • MZ female twins: 21% concordance rate
  • DZ female twins: 8% concordance rate
• What are the main findings of Crowe's adoption study?

  • 50% of adopted children with criminal mothers had records
  • Only 5% of matched controls had records
• What are the implications of the MAOA gene in criminal behavior?

  • Affects levels of Monoamine Oxidase A
  • Influences neurotransmitter levels
  • Linked to violent and impulsive behavior
• What did Raine's study reveal about brain activity in murderers?

  • Less activity in pre-frontal and parietal areas
  • Increased activity in occipital areas
  • Differences in amygdala linked to emotional responses
• What role do mirror neurons play in empathy?

  • Activate when empathising with others
  • Criminals show empathy only when prompted
  • Non-criminals have constant empathy activation
• How does dopamine influence criminal behavior?

  • Linked to pleasure and reward
  • Increases desire to repeat criminal behaviors
• G+N Explanations AO3 - Deterministic

  • Tihonen et al - those with the defective genes were 13 times more likely to have a history of repeated violent behaviour, but not everyone with the gene had become an offender
  • The law asks the question about whether the cause of behaviour is outside a person's control, and it does appear harder for some men to avoid criminal violence - may be due to both biology and the environment in which they grew up
  • Therefore a determinist view of criminal behaviour cannot be totally ruled out
• G+N Explanations AO3 - Brain evidence

  • Kandel and Freed - reviewed evidence of frontal lobe damage and antisocial behaviour
  • People with such damage tended to show impulsive behaviour, emotional instability and inability to learn from their mistakes
  • Frontal lobe is associated with planning behaviour
  • Supports the idea that brain damage may be a causal factor in offending behaviour
• G+N Explanations AO3 - Reductionist

  • Ignores the complexity of behaviour and the influence of other factors
  • To say socialisation and upbringing cannot change or affect an individual is unlikely and to ignore this as a potential factors is missing key information in the understanding of criminal behaviour
  • Ex. there have been examples of individuals with the MAOA gene who have not developed violent or anti-social tendencies
  • Therefore a more diathesis stress explanation appears more likely for criminality
• What neurotransmitter is linked to pleasure and reward?

  Dopamine
• How does dopamine influence behavior according to Couppis?

  It creates a desire to repeat rewarding behaviors
• What might happen to individuals who experience increased dopamine from criminal behaviors?

  They may seek out such experiences again
• What is the relationship between dopamine and criminal behavior as described by Couppis?

  • Dopamine linked to pleasure and reward
  • Increased dopamine may lead to repeated criminal behaviors
  • Rewarding feelings encourage seeking similar experiences