Biological explanations of offending behaviour: neural explanations

+support for the link between crime & frontal lobe

Kandel & Freed: reviewed evidence of frontal lobe damage(prefrontal cortex) & Anti social behaviour

Ppl with damage tended to show impulsive behaviour, emotional instability & inability to learn from mistakes

• supports idea that brain damage may be a factor in offending behaviour

-link between neural differences & APD may be complex

David Farrington et al: studied group of men who scored high on psychopathy(APD)

Could be that early childhood experiences (trauma) caused APD & also some neural differences associated with it -reduced activity in the frontal lobe due to trauma

• relationship between neural differences & APD is complex and may be other intervening variables that have an impact on offending behaviour

Biological approach suggests that offending behaviour is determined by genetic /neural factors (cannot be controlled by person)

So person should not be held responsible for crime

-however justice system based on notion that we should have responsibility for our actions

• possible biological precursors (mental disorders) to crime complicates this principle

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