Edexcel Psychology for A Level Yr 2 Revision Guide

Chapter 3 Criminological psychology Explanations of crime and anti-social behaviour: Biological explanations Spec spotlight Explanations of crime and anti- social behaviour, with consideration given to gender differences. 6.1.1 Biological explanations, including brain injury, amygdala and aggression, XYY syndrome. Brain injury Link between brain injury (especially in childhood) and offending. Williams et al . (2010) studied inmates from a single UK prison, 60% recalled one or more head injuries in their youth. This 60% were younger at first offence, engaged in more reoffending, spent more time in prison in the previous five years than the rest of the sample. Acquired brain injuries (ABIs) result from e.g. sports accidents. Connection between ABIs and offending: • Brain is not fully mature until mid-20s. Cognitive abilities (e.g. impulse control, forward planning) are among the last functions to develop. • ABI can disrupt development, so the person fails to move beyond the reckless and risk-taking behaviour of childhood. • Brain injury may also destabilise mood, concentration and decision-making, making offending behaviour more likely. Amygdala and aggression Almond-shaped structure in the temporal lobe of both brain hemispheres. The amygdala is part of the limbic system which directs how we react to threatening situations (part of the brain’s ‘startle response’). Raine et al . (1997) found reduced metabolic activity in several brain areas of psychopathic murderers, including the left amygdala. Gao et al . (2010) conducted a study looking at the role of abnormal amygdala functioning: • Sample – 1,795 children aged 3, conditioned to fear certain sounds (one tone followed by a loud unpleasant sound, and another followed by silence). Whether the child developed a conditioned fear response to the first tone was assessed using measures of skin conductance. • 20 years later, those who went on to commit crimes were less likely to have shown a fear response to the first tone. • Abnormal amygdala functioning (lack of fear at age 3). Pardini et al . (2014) conducted neuroimaging scans: • 26-year-old men were grouped according to whether they had normal-volume or reduced-volume amygdala. • Three years later, the reduced-volume men were three times more likely than the others to be aggressive, violent and show psychopathic traits. XYY syndrome About 1 in 10,000 genetic males are born with an additional Y chromosome. Testosterone levels and sexual development are unaffected, but XYY males are taller than average, have lower intelligence, can be impulsive and may experience behavioural difficulties. Jacobs et al . (1965) reported a connection between XYY syndrome, aggression and crime: • Chromosome survey of male patients in a Scottish hospital. • Men with XYY chromosomal pattern were over-represented in prison populations (around 15 per 10,000) compared to the general population. Apply it Concepts Sara had two boys, Toby and Arlo who are now in their 30s and in prison. Both were very sporty but Arlo had two severe accidental head injuries as a child which stopped him playing football. Toby used to be utterly fearless and crash into things, hurting his arms and legs. Now Arlo is the risk-taker. 1. Explain how Arlo’s childhood may have affected: (a) His adult thinking. (2) (b) His adult temperament. (2) 2. Suggest one biological reason why Toby may have been reckless as a child. (2) 3. Context essay: Discuss biological explanations for Toby and Arlo’s criminal behaviour. (8) The amygdala – if you wondered where to find it. 100 AO1 Description