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WJEC Psychology - Debates Questions with
Detailed Verified Answers
What is the title for the biological debate?
⼀Answer:⼀ The ethics of neuroscience
What is the first area of the ethics of neuroscience?
⼀Answer:⼀ Treating and understanding criminal behaviour via
neuroscience.
Neuroscience helps identify neurological causes of behaviour
(example)
⼀Answer:⼀ Raine et al (1997)
NGRI murderers had decreased glucose metabolism in brain areas
associated with behavioural control, e.g, the prefrontal cortex.
Led to better understanding of of crime and compassionate
approaches to criminal justice system such as rehabilitation and
treatment rather than punishment
Cherek et al (2002)
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⼀Answer:⼀ Treated offenders with brain related issues (such as low
serotonin) with medications (e.g SSRI's) to reduce aggression and
impulsivity.
Offering pharmacological treatment to criminals to reduce criminal
behaviour would benefit society as crime rates would decrease.
What can neuroscience help to identify?
⼀Answer:⼀ Early warning signs of criminal behaviour, therefore
enabling early intervention through psychological support and
therapeutic measures before criminal behaviour develops.
What ethical concerns must be addressed before implementing
findings in criminal justice system?
⼀Answer:⼀ It may remove responsibility if criminal behaviour is due
to brain abnormalities
Labels individuals as 'dangerous' if they too have the brain
abnormalities
Bennett et al (2009) - a dead salmon showed that brain scans can
produce false positives
Using neuroscience to influence thoughts/behaviours without full
consent could violate the individuals rights
What is the second area of the ethics of neuroscience?
WJEC Psychology - Debates Questions with
Detailed Verified Answers
What is the title for the biological debate?
⼀Answer:⼀ The ethics of neuroscience
What is the first area of the ethics of neuroscience?
⼀Answer:⼀ Treating and understanding criminal behaviour via
neuroscience.
Neuroscience helps identify neurological causes of behaviour
(example)
⼀Answer:⼀ Raine et al (1997)
NGRI murderers had decreased glucose metabolism in brain areas
associated with behavioural control, e.g, the prefrontal cortex.
Led to better understanding of of crime and compassionate
approaches to criminal justice system such as rehabilitation and
treatment rather than punishment
Cherek et al (2002)
, Page | 2
⼀Answer:⼀ Treated offenders with brain related issues (such as low
serotonin) with medications (e.g SSRI's) to reduce aggression and
impulsivity.
Offering pharmacological treatment to criminals to reduce criminal
behaviour would benefit society as crime rates would decrease.
What can neuroscience help to identify?
⼀Answer:⼀ Early warning signs of criminal behaviour, therefore
enabling early intervention through psychological support and
therapeutic measures before criminal behaviour develops.
What ethical concerns must be addressed before implementing
findings in criminal justice system?
⼀Answer:⼀ It may remove responsibility if criminal behaviour is due
to brain abnormalities
Labels individuals as 'dangerous' if they too have the brain
abnormalities
Bennett et al (2009) - a dead salmon showed that brain scans can
produce false positives
Using neuroscience to influence thoughts/behaviours without full
consent could violate the individuals rights
What is the second area of the ethics of neuroscience?
