CRIM 2103

Conformity

Good humans, influenced by society and values

Nonconformist

Humans are undisciplined; individuals’ ties to society are weak; innate tendencies must be controlled by society

Learning (tabula rasa)

Humans are born neutral; behaviour is learned through social interactions

Decreased IQ causes…

delinquency and also the other way around

Monozygotic (identical)

1 egg, same genetic material

Dizygotic (fraternal)

2 eggs, half the same genetic material (like all siblings)

(BP)=criminal and (AP)=criminal

effects heredity and environment of child

(BP)=criminal and (AP)=non-criminal

effects heredity of the child and the genes

(BP)=non-criminal and (AP)=criminal

 effects environment of child’s development

(BP)=non-criminal and (AP)=non-criminal

 no effects on either environment or heredity

Prefrontal Cortex

• Central for impulse control, moral reasoning, long‑term planning, and empathy.

• Violent offenders often show reduced activity or reduced gray matter volume in this region.

• Damage or dysfunction leads to poor emotional regulation, reckless behaviour, and antisocial tendencies.

• Studies report up to 11% reduced gray matter in individuals with antisocial personality disorder.

Amygdala

• Processes fear, threat, and emotional salience.

• Abnormalities (reduced volume or low activation) are linked to psychopathic traits, aggression, and lack of empathy.

• Deviations in amygdala size/function correlate with violence and re‑offending risk. 

Anterior Cingulate Cortex

• Involved in behaviour regulation, error monitoring, and impulsivity.

• Low ACC function is associated with a higher likelihood of criminal behaviour and increased risk of re‑offending.

Temporal Lobe

• Supports memory, emotional processing, and auditory processing.

• Dysfunctions here can contribute to emotional dysregulation and aggression. 

Prefrontal–Limbic Connectivity

• Criminal and psychopathic behaviour often involves weakened connections between the prefrontal cortex and limbic structures (like the amygdala).

• This disconnect reduces emotional responsiveness and impairs moral judgement.

Causes: ◼ Head injury, trauma ◼ Degenerative diseases ◼ Strokes ◼ Acute infections ◼ Prenatal exposure to teratogens ◼ Birth complications ◼ Other envir. influences on brain dev.

 May lead to: ◼ Aggression and violence ◼ Irritability ◼ Impulsivity ◼ Anger management issues ◼ Impaired cognitive and motor functioning

Teratogens

 factors that can interfere with normal growth of an embryo

Brain plasticity

the brain’s ability to change structure and function

Displacement

Redirecting an unacceptable urge away from the original object toward another one that is usually less threatening.

Projection

Attributing one’s own unacceptable urges, feelings, or thoughts to someone else

Reaction formation

Guarding against unacceptable urges, feelings, or thoughts by substituting them with the opposite

Repression

Pushing threatening thoughts, feelings, and memories into the unconscious

Sublimation

Transforming an unacceptable urge into positive and socially acceptable behaviour

Denial

Blocking external events from awareness

Regression

A movement back to an earlier stage of psychological development in the face of stress

Identification with aggressor

A victim adopts the behaviour of a person who is more powerful and hostile towards them in the hopes of avoiding abuse by creating an emotional connection

Rationalization

Cognitive distortion of the facts to make an event or impulse less threatening, making excuses, believing one’s own lies

Compart-mentalization

Separating your life into independent sectors as a way to protect elements of it