OCR criminal psychology

What are the main areas of study in the Raine et al. (1997) research regarding brain abnormalities in murderers?

This study focused on the prefrontal cortex, angular gyrus, amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, and corpus callosum as areas of brain abnormalities in murderers pleading NGRI.

What is the methodology used in Raine et al. (1997) study?

The study used a natural (quasi) experiment with participants who were matched for age and gender. It compared NGRI murderers with normal controls using PET scans.

What two hypotheses were tested in Raine et al. (1997)?

1. Seriously violent individuals pleading NGRI have localised brain dysfunction in critical areas linked to violence. 2. They show no dysfunction in other areas related to different psychiatric conditions.

What was one key finding regarding the amygdala in the study by Raine et al. (1997)?

Murderers had lower activity in the left amygdala compared to controls, which may be linked to a lack of inhibition for violent behavior.

What was the main aim of Hall and Player's study (2008) on fingerprint analysis?

To investigate whether an emotional context affects fingerprint analysis and decision-making by fingerprint experts.

In Hall and Player's experiment, what were the two groups formed for the fingerprint analysis?

Participants were allocated to either a low-context group (forgery case) or a high-context group (murder case).

What were the results of the Hall and Player (2008) study regarding emotional context?

The emotional context did affect fingerprint experts' analysis, but it did not significantly alter their final decisions.

What is the Cognitive Interview (CI) technique introduced by Geiselman et al. (1985)?

The CI is a police interview technique that incorporates psychological findings to enhance memory retrieval using various components, including context reinstatement.

What finding support the effectiveness of the Cognitive Interview?

Studies showed that the Cognitive Interview produced significantly more accurate recall compared to standard interview techniques.

What are the implications regarding the Brummie accent study by Dixon et al. (2002)?

Suspects with a Brummie accent were perceived as more guilty than those with a standard accent, highlighting how accents can bias judgments in legal contexts.

What is one conclusion from Haney, Banks, and Zimbardo's (1973) prison study?

The simulated prison environment caused significant psychological changes in both guards and prisoners, leading to dehumanization and abusive behavior.

What psychological phenomenon did prisoners display in the study by Zimbardo (1973)?

Prisoners developed the 'Pathological Prisoner Syndrome', demonstrating extreme compliance and emotional distress due to the prison conditions.

What was the primary focus of Wilson and Kelling's 'Broken Windows' theory?

The theory suggests that visible signs of disorder in a neighborhood, such as broken windows, can lead to an increase in crime if left unchecked.

What role does foot patrol play according to Wilson and Kelling (1982)?

Foot patrol enhances community feelings of safety and order, as it increases police visibility and builds trust with residents.

What did Memon & Higham (1999) highlight about the effectiveness of CI components?

They indicated that context reinstatement is one of the most effective components of the Cognitive Interview for improving memory retrieval.

What is one important factor regarding the training of police interviewers using CI techniques?

Interviewers should receive adequate training in Cognitive Interview techniques to ensure effective implementation in real-world situations.

What was revealed about participants' guilt ratings in the Dixon et al. (2002) study?

It was discovered that the Brummie-accented suspect was rated as guiltier than the RP suspect, influencing perceptions based on accent.