1

• For

  • brain scans can predict violent behaviour
  • Raine et al (1997) - briefly introduce research, PET scans used to investigate brain differences - findings, clear brain differences e.g. lower activity in frontal (link to impulse control), abnormal asymmetries (hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus) - confirms link between brain & violent behaviour
  • benefits > costs as we can predict & prevent violent behaviour
• Against

  • violent behaviour is complex
  • bio explanation alone to explain violent behaviour = reductionist, needs to consider enviro, childhood, cultural & social factors, holistic explanation needed
  • WIDER READING - John Massey - low activity variant of serotonin transporter gene which interacts with environment, triggered by traumatic event (interactionist)= biological determinism which ignores humans have free will = unethical
  • benefits < costs as violent behaviour cannot be predicted by biology alone
• Mini conc

  • social - impact on criminal justice system = lead to shorter sentences for those with predisposition to violent behaviour
  • economic - brain scan expensive & time consuming
  • ethical - diagnosing someone as criminal using brain scans = unethical, inflicts psychological harm when labelling someone as violent from only brain scan (reductionist) = self fulfilling prophecy theory - PET scans require FDG injection (invasive), however alternative non-invasive techniques (MRI) have no radiation