Genetic and neural explanations

• outline genetic explanations for offending behaviour?

  Genetic explanations for offending behaviour suggests that inherited genes (genotypes) effect the likelihood of engaging with criminal behaviour (phenotype) e.g. aggression. There are certain candidate genes that have been like to offending behaviour, suggesting criminality is genetic. For example, the MAOA gene that regulates serotonin and has been linked to aggression, and the CDH13 gene that has been linked to substance abuse and ADHD. 
• Strengths of genetic explanations

  1977 Christiansen found a 35% concordance rate of offending behaviour amongst monozygotic twins and a 13% concordance rate of offending behaviour amongst dizygotic twins.

  1972 Crowe found that 50% of adopted children whose biological mother had a criminal record also had one by the age of 18, compared to 5% of adoptees whose biological mother did not have a criminal record.

  2015, Tiihonen et al examined 800 Finnish offenders and found that approximately 5-10% of all severe and extremely violent crime in Finland were associated with one of these genes.
• weaknesses of genetic explanations

  adoption and twin studies are natural - little control

  socially sensitive - Proposing the idea that there is an identifiable biological basis on crime can lead to eugenic practices in attempts to reduce crime through processes like institutionalisation and sterilisation of those with the inherited genes. 
• Outline neural explanations?

  Neural explanations for offending behaviour suggests that it is determined by the biochemistry and neural structures in the brain.
• elaborate on bichemistry as a neural explanation for offending?

  Neurotransmitters are biological molecules that regulate brain activity, and an imbalance in these chemicals have been linked to offending behaviour. Examples include : low levels of serotonin and impulsivity ; High levels of noradrenaline and aggression ; and high levels of dopamine which is linked to drug addiction, when this drops, the need to access more can lead to offending behaviour such as theft. 
• elaborate on neural structures as a neural explanation for offending?

  the limbic system regulates emotions such as guilt, empathy, and compassion, so with reduced activity in this structure these emotions will not be experienced as strongly/at all causing offending behaviour to be easier to commit. Secondly, the prefrontal cortex regulates executive functions, specifically overriding strong emotional responses and is responsible for impulse control. Reduced activity in this structure can lead to impulsive behaviour being displayed. 
• strengths for neural explanations of offending?

  supporting evidence

  Raine et al 2000 showed criminals have 11% lower volume of grey matter and activity level in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for logical thinking and decision making.

  2001 Kiehl MRI‘d offenders in emotional processing task and found their limbic system activity was substantially reduced to that in the control group of non offenders.

  Biologically determinist view - By rejecting free will, it suggests offenders should not be held fully responsible for crime, reducing punishment, focusing on treatment.
• what are the weaknesses of neural explanations of offending?

   socially sensitive implications that it holds, causing it to be criticised as unethical. Proposing the idea that there is an identifiable biological basis on crime can lead to eugenic practices in attempts to reduce crime through processes like institutionalisation and sterilisation of those with the neurotransmitters and neurological structures. Moreover, the theory holds a reductionist view as it ignores any external factors like drug abuse or childhood trauma.