Outline neural explanations as an explanation for offending behaviour

Antisocial personality disorder

There are many Neuro differences in the brain of offenders and non-offenders

For example, antisocial personality disorder is associated with a lack of empathy and reduced emotional response. many convicted offenders have a diagnosis of APD.

Less activity in prefrontal cortex = less emotional regulation

Raine er al found reduced activity and an 11% reduction in the volume of grey matter in the prefrontal cortex of people with APD COMPARED TO CONTROLS.

This Is the part of the brain that regulates emotional behaviour.

mirror Neurons (empathy) may not always be turned on

Keysers found that only when offenders were asked to Empathise did they show empathy reaction (controlled by the mirror neuron in the brain)

This suggests APD Individuals do experience empathy may have a neural switch that turns it on and off

In a normally functioning brain, the empathy which is permanently on

Summary

Antisocial personality disorder is associated with lack of empathy and reduced emotional responses

Raine found 11% reduction in volume of grey matter in prefontal cortex - regulates emotional behaviour

Keysers found offenders have to neurally ‘switch on empathy - when asked to