biological, brain structures

brain trauma/abnormality

• the pre frontal cortex is the control centre of the brain, so when the pre frontal cortex is damaged the person can experience a loss of control

• raine et al 1994, used PET scans to study living brains of killers and found that criminals were more likely to have damage to the pre frontal cortex

• phones gage: freak accident cause brain damage. he could eat, talk, sing, etc normally after the accident but he had personality changed including a bad temper

neurochemical

• serotonin: low levels is linked with higher aggression, impulsive violence, depression. high levels leads to headaches, shivering and diharrea - serotonin regulates signals beteeen neurons so changes affects mood

• steroids: when large amounts are taken a person can become extremely violent( roid rage). it increases muscle growth and testosterone levels - users appear to use weapons in crime

• testosterone: large amounts=increased violence. horace williams (an american bodybuilder) beat a man to death after taking 2000x the recommmded dosage

describe one genetic theory of criminality (6)

• adoption studies

• twins share genes but also environment, behaviour is not only henwtic

• hutchings & mednick

• mednick et al

describe biological theories of crime (9)

• physiological, genetic and brain structures