EXPLANATIONS OF CRIME - AMYGDALA

What are the main functions of the amygdala?

The amygdala regulates emotions such as fear and aggression, gives emotional meaning to memories, helps with decision-making, and controls the fight-or-flight response.

How can impairment of the amygdala affect behaviour?

Damage or impairment to the amygdala may lead to sudden outbursts of unprovoked aggression, low fear levels, and increased risk-taking behaviour.

Why might amygdala impairment be linked to criminal behaviour?

Low fear and high risk-taking caused by amygdala impairment may increase the likelihood of dangerous or criminal acts.

What response is controlled by the amygdala?

The amygdala controls the fight-or-flight response.

evidence for link between damage to amygdala and crime - charles whitman

-mass shooting from bell tower at Texas uni

-following at autopsy, a brain tumor was found located in the limbic system, impacting on the amygdala

-this may have had influence on his brain functioning which led to this criminal behaviour

Raines findings in relation to the amygdala

.provides support for explanation that amygdala is involved in aggression and so can influence criminal/antisocial behaviour

.Raine suggests that the abnormal functioning of the amygdala, responsible for emotional processing, results in murderers being fearless.

.this fearlessness could result in the increase chance of acting violently

PARDINI et al

.conducted

scans on group of 26 year old men

.the men were divided into 2 groups; whether they had normal sized amygdala or whether they had amygdala of reduced volume.

.3 years later, researchers found that the group with reduced volume amygdala were 3 times more likely to be aggressive, violent and demonstrate psychopathic traits than the group with normal sized amygdala

-use of brain scans is objective and scientific

weakness

.cause and effect conclusions cant be drawn

.research suggests that the amygdala doesnt operate alone but is heavily influenced by OFC, which is part of the frontal lobe. the OFC is to regulate self control and its reduced functioning is associated with increased aggression and violent outburst

-reductionist explanation