Evaluation

• Evaluation of Glenn’s study

  It was scientific, as it used FMRI scans, creating objective data which increases internal validity
• Evaluation of glenns study

  It had a low participant size, meaning that it cant represent wider society, decreasing population validity
• Evaluation of Yu GAO‘s study

  it was longitudinal, meaning that the researchers could gather a more in depth analysis of participants over a longer period of time, increasing reliability of the study.
• evaluation of Yu Gao‘s study 


  it lack mundane realism and control over confounding variable, as testing sweating asd a response could be because of many confounding factors
• Why is this approach reductionist ?

  The amygdala is linked to a wider system of connected brain structures, and doesnt act in it’s own when is comes to criminal behaviour. This is a complex process that involves different structures, so the amygdala may not be enough to explain aggressive and criminal behaviour
• why is this approach reductionist (supporting research)

  Raine et al conducted a study that found the difference in brain function within murderers and non-murderers. The findings from this study suggests that there are other areas of the brain, such as the pre frontal cortex and and corpus collosum that play a role in criminal behaviour
• reductionist

  it ignores other factors, such as environment, neurotransmitters, genes and society
• determinism and ethical implications

  Some psychologists are reluctant to accept biological implications for crim behaviour, because if criminal behaviour is all down to ones biology, it denies the theory of free will and questions weather or not one is responsible for their own actions and weather they should be punished for what they have done. It also denounces the role society plays in criminal behaviour
• Method of modification

  Bernsard Gesch found that there were fewer offences made in prison when given diet supplements. Vitamins and mineral, and fatty acids
• most of this research is also correlational and not and does not establish a cause and effect realtionship, does amygdala dysfunction occur first? or does criminal behaviour cause amygdala dysfunction ?
• Bernard gesch


  Randomised double blind

  231 adult British prisoners

  after supplements, committed 35% less disciplinary offences compared to before this programme.

  26% fewer than placebo also
• Lack of cause and effect

  The amygdala plays a role in regulating fear and anxiety related behaviour. damage to the amygdala affects the ability to process fear and anxiety related information which in turn affects social functioning. Making aggressive behaviour more likely but not inevitable.

  Amygdala dysfunction is not necessarily a cause of aggressive behaviour but a contributing factor becoming a criminal instead is a result of other biological factors and environment.