AO1: A03:
Biological Explanation one: The Role of The Amygdala! +Implications to treatment: Yu Gao et al (2010); research suggests
The amygdala is made up pf ‘grey matter’ and is a cluster of neurons, that an enrichment programme focused nutrition exercise and cognitive
making 13 nuclei. It is located in the medial temporal lobe of the brain skills could lower levels of aggression. This helps the amygdala not to
(memories/regulates emotions) and is also a part of the limbic system change= unlikely to commit criminal behaviour in the future.
(emotions & anxiety and fear). +Pardini et al (2014): Method-> 503 men, 6–7-year-old, longitudinal
Study: Yu Gao et al (2010): Method-> longitudinal, testing 3year old study 20 years later identified a subgroup of 56 who all displayed
children in response to a painful noise. Findings-> A dysfunctional aggressive behaviours since childhood and engaged in serious criminal
amygdala leads to a lack of fear response. (e.g. children not identifying behaviours all had lower amygdala volumes. -> Criminal behaviour can
social cues indicating anger/ aggression)-> Will display fearlessness be predicted.
and overly aggressive behaviour as adults. Study showed that those +Scientific: Brain scans provide differences in the amygdala, allowing
who didn’t display fear at 3years committed a crime. for replicable and measurable research. Easy generalisations can be
Study: Pardini et al (2014): Method-> 503 men, 6–7-year-old, made and can make predictions about behaviour. (Could use Raine et al
longitudinal study Findings-> 20 years later identified a subgroup of 56 here too!)
who all displayed aggressive behaviours since childhood and engaged -Reductionist: Oversimplifies behaviour into the role of the amygdala.
in serious criminal behaviours all had lower amygdala volumes. -> Very limited as the amygdala is affected by genetics and the
Criminal behaviour can be predicted. environment: Study-> Jimm Fallon, a criminal psychologist, has the
MAOA gene (aggressive behaviour) and low activity in occipital lobe and
amygdala, yet isn’t a psychopath due to a healthy childhood.
-Ethical implications-> risk of harm is an issue. Scanning children from
birth may lead to emotional harm with parents-> confusing regarding
what they are meant to do if children are biologically structured like a
psychopath. May lead to stigma before children even begin displaying
harmful behaviour + self-fulfilling prophecy affect = may encourage
criminal behaviour as it is expected.
-Alternative research: Raine et al; suggests that “biology is not
destiny” and that despite his study showing biological differences in
murderers and non-murderers (low activity in left hand amygdala and
high activity in right hand amygdala); also considers that people are still
responsible for their actions and should not blame biological differences
solely for criminal behaviour. -> not reductionist.
Biological Explanation two: Inherited criminality! + Supported by research; Couppis et al (2008): Looked into the role
Inherited criminality is the idea that biological structures-> brain of dopamine in aggression. Dopamine is produced in response to
structures, genetics and hormones can be inherited = criminal rewarding stimuli such as food and sex. He found that dopamine plays a
behaviour. E.G- the MAOA gene, ‘warrior gene’ is linked with criminality vital tole in aggression-> some seek out aggressive encounters due to
in men. Found in the X-chromosome (comes from the mother (xx)) and the rewarding sensations caused by an increase in dopamine.
men have (xy) which = to a dysfunctional X-chromosome cannot +Treatment: New NHS Wales service (1st in UK)- offers patients/
compensate itself in men as they only have one. ->> the presence of families genetic testing of those suffering with mental health issues. ->
this gene can lead to violence and aggression in men. Additionally, too Cardiff University research has identified key genes linked to
, much serotonin can lead to people to be insensitive to serotonin -> schizophrenia, for e.g. Genetic testing = see if there are small
higher levels of aggression & more difficult for people to calm down. alterations in their DNA code- known as CNVs = early interventions for
However, it is unlikely that the MAOA gene acts alone->brain MH disorders.
structures, such as the activity in the temporal lobe, helps to control +Deterministic + Justice system: Says that criminal behaviour is
how the MAOA gene functions. determined by inherited biological structures, such as genes (DRD2
Study: Miles & Carey (1997): They completed a meta-analysis of 24 gene-aggressive/anti-behaviour) and brain structures (activity in
twins + adoption studies, meaning that a wide range of studies were temporal & occipital lobe) ->Increased sympathy in people/ court and
researched to see if twins inherit the same proportion of criminality in reduced sentencing as it’s not their fault for committing crimes.
their genes. MZs = identical twins, and DZs = non-identical twin. A -Epigenetics: idea that the hardware (genetics/DNA) and software
self-report-> aggressive tendencies/ observation. E.G- Gottesman (environment) all work together; diathesis stress model & must look at
(1966)’s study -> found that men had 5x more Mzs than Dzs in regards both as it is unlikely that either works alone. -> Professor from Uni of
to genetic makeup of aggression, whereas it was double in women. - Zurich & Trauma/ extreme violence can modify DNA and these
>> strong genetic influence with 50% of variance in aggression. Also modifications can be inherited too. Study on mice & separated from the
found that age differences played & both genes and family mothers for several hours at a time = stressful/ traumatic ->passed on
environment being influential in determining aggression in youth-> In to offspring.
later years, the role of the environment decreased and the influence of -Animal research; Couppis et al (2008): Hard to establish a link
genes increased. Shows that inherited criminality is not the sole between dopamine and aggression experimentally-> Study with mice
deterministic factor in ones’ aggression levels. where they ‘turned off’ the dopamine in mice. Difficult to explain if
Brunner et al: reduced aggression is due to a lack of motivation OR if the mice found it
difficult to move a dopamine plays a role in coordination of movement. =
Inconclusive to link to inherited criminality.
-Ignores individual differences (nomothetic); Inherited criminality
only looks at what is biologically inherited; personality and gender is not
considered in its explanations, and looks at only genes/ hormones etc.
E.G. someone with aggressive personality may not have differences in
brain structures or MAOA gene, but this is not considered here in
explaining criminal behaviour.
A01: A03:
Individual differences explanation one: Eysenk’s criminal + Farrington et al: reviewed 16 studies of the relationships between
personality E, N & P measures with criminal convictions ->majority of cases,
Eysenk’s personality traits explain criminal behaviour through dividing offenders scored higher on P&N, but not E scores. (Supports Eysenck’s’
our personality, the consistent ways in which we feel, think and act, into theory)
3 categories. (62% of each trait has a bio. Basis): Extraversion-> +Zuckerman (1987): Twin Studies & high concordance rates: found
criminals who are outgoing, easily bored and seeking a thrill-> crime; support for genetics from twin studies.
place themselves in dangerous situations, like theft. This is because N = MZ + 0.52 v DZ + 0.24 correlation
extraverts have an under aroused cerebral cortex =they are E = MZ + 0.51 V DZ + 0.12 (although not as much as claimed – 40%
Biological Explanation one: The Role of The Amygdala! +Implications to treatment: Yu Gao et al (2010); research suggests
The amygdala is made up pf ‘grey matter’ and is a cluster of neurons, that an enrichment programme focused nutrition exercise and cognitive
making 13 nuclei. It is located in the medial temporal lobe of the brain skills could lower levels of aggression. This helps the amygdala not to
(memories/regulates emotions) and is also a part of the limbic system change= unlikely to commit criminal behaviour in the future.
(emotions & anxiety and fear). +Pardini et al (2014): Method-> 503 men, 6–7-year-old, longitudinal
Study: Yu Gao et al (2010): Method-> longitudinal, testing 3year old study 20 years later identified a subgroup of 56 who all displayed
children in response to a painful noise. Findings-> A dysfunctional aggressive behaviours since childhood and engaged in serious criminal
amygdala leads to a lack of fear response. (e.g. children not identifying behaviours all had lower amygdala volumes. -> Criminal behaviour can
social cues indicating anger/ aggression)-> Will display fearlessness be predicted.
and overly aggressive behaviour as adults. Study showed that those +Scientific: Brain scans provide differences in the amygdala, allowing
who didn’t display fear at 3years committed a crime. for replicable and measurable research. Easy generalisations can be
Study: Pardini et al (2014): Method-> 503 men, 6–7-year-old, made and can make predictions about behaviour. (Could use Raine et al
longitudinal study Findings-> 20 years later identified a subgroup of 56 here too!)
who all displayed aggressive behaviours since childhood and engaged -Reductionist: Oversimplifies behaviour into the role of the amygdala.
in serious criminal behaviours all had lower amygdala volumes. -> Very limited as the amygdala is affected by genetics and the
Criminal behaviour can be predicted. environment: Study-> Jimm Fallon, a criminal psychologist, has the
MAOA gene (aggressive behaviour) and low activity in occipital lobe and
amygdala, yet isn’t a psychopath due to a healthy childhood.
-Ethical implications-> risk of harm is an issue. Scanning children from
birth may lead to emotional harm with parents-> confusing regarding
what they are meant to do if children are biologically structured like a
psychopath. May lead to stigma before children even begin displaying
harmful behaviour + self-fulfilling prophecy affect = may encourage
criminal behaviour as it is expected.
-Alternative research: Raine et al; suggests that “biology is not
destiny” and that despite his study showing biological differences in
murderers and non-murderers (low activity in left hand amygdala and
high activity in right hand amygdala); also considers that people are still
responsible for their actions and should not blame biological differences
solely for criminal behaviour. -> not reductionist.
Biological Explanation two: Inherited criminality! + Supported by research; Couppis et al (2008): Looked into the role
Inherited criminality is the idea that biological structures-> brain of dopamine in aggression. Dopamine is produced in response to
structures, genetics and hormones can be inherited = criminal rewarding stimuli such as food and sex. He found that dopamine plays a
behaviour. E.G- the MAOA gene, ‘warrior gene’ is linked with criminality vital tole in aggression-> some seek out aggressive encounters due to
in men. Found in the X-chromosome (comes from the mother (xx)) and the rewarding sensations caused by an increase in dopamine.
men have (xy) which = to a dysfunctional X-chromosome cannot +Treatment: New NHS Wales service (1st in UK)- offers patients/
compensate itself in men as they only have one. ->> the presence of families genetic testing of those suffering with mental health issues. ->
this gene can lead to violence and aggression in men. Additionally, too Cardiff University research has identified key genes linked to
, much serotonin can lead to people to be insensitive to serotonin -> schizophrenia, for e.g. Genetic testing = see if there are small
higher levels of aggression & more difficult for people to calm down. alterations in their DNA code- known as CNVs = early interventions for
However, it is unlikely that the MAOA gene acts alone->brain MH disorders.
structures, such as the activity in the temporal lobe, helps to control +Deterministic + Justice system: Says that criminal behaviour is
how the MAOA gene functions. determined by inherited biological structures, such as genes (DRD2
Study: Miles & Carey (1997): They completed a meta-analysis of 24 gene-aggressive/anti-behaviour) and brain structures (activity in
twins + adoption studies, meaning that a wide range of studies were temporal & occipital lobe) ->Increased sympathy in people/ court and
researched to see if twins inherit the same proportion of criminality in reduced sentencing as it’s not their fault for committing crimes.
their genes. MZs = identical twins, and DZs = non-identical twin. A -Epigenetics: idea that the hardware (genetics/DNA) and software
self-report-> aggressive tendencies/ observation. E.G- Gottesman (environment) all work together; diathesis stress model & must look at
(1966)’s study -> found that men had 5x more Mzs than Dzs in regards both as it is unlikely that either works alone. -> Professor from Uni of
to genetic makeup of aggression, whereas it was double in women. - Zurich & Trauma/ extreme violence can modify DNA and these
>> strong genetic influence with 50% of variance in aggression. Also modifications can be inherited too. Study on mice & separated from the
found that age differences played & both genes and family mothers for several hours at a time = stressful/ traumatic ->passed on
environment being influential in determining aggression in youth-> In to offspring.
later years, the role of the environment decreased and the influence of -Animal research; Couppis et al (2008): Hard to establish a link
genes increased. Shows that inherited criminality is not the sole between dopamine and aggression experimentally-> Study with mice
deterministic factor in ones’ aggression levels. where they ‘turned off’ the dopamine in mice. Difficult to explain if
Brunner et al: reduced aggression is due to a lack of motivation OR if the mice found it
difficult to move a dopamine plays a role in coordination of movement. =
Inconclusive to link to inherited criminality.
-Ignores individual differences (nomothetic); Inherited criminality
only looks at what is biologically inherited; personality and gender is not
considered in its explanations, and looks at only genes/ hormones etc.
E.G. someone with aggressive personality may not have differences in
brain structures or MAOA gene, but this is not considered here in
explaining criminal behaviour.
A01: A03:
Individual differences explanation one: Eysenk’s criminal + Farrington et al: reviewed 16 studies of the relationships between
personality E, N & P measures with criminal convictions ->majority of cases,
Eysenk’s personality traits explain criminal behaviour through dividing offenders scored higher on P&N, but not E scores. (Supports Eysenck’s’
our personality, the consistent ways in which we feel, think and act, into theory)
3 categories. (62% of each trait has a bio. Basis): Extraversion-> +Zuckerman (1987): Twin Studies & high concordance rates: found
criminals who are outgoing, easily bored and seeking a thrill-> crime; support for genetics from twin studies.
place themselves in dangerous situations, like theft. This is because N = MZ + 0.52 v DZ + 0.24 correlation
extraverts have an under aroused cerebral cortex =they are E = MZ + 0.51 V DZ + 0.12 (although not as much as claimed – 40%
