Summary
Summary Notes ensuring grade A essays in offending
- Module
- Forensics psychology
- Institution
- AQA
Notes outlining everything you will need to succeed within the forensic psychology module in A level Psychology
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BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS of offending = Suggest causes of offending areinfluenced by physiological factors
ATAVISTIC FORM: Lombroso ( Proposed theory in book ‘The Criminal
Man’)
- Argued that criminals are ‘genetic throwbacks’ = Whom exhibit
‘atavistic’ features that allows for criminals to be identified from the
public
- There are distinct biological classes that make individuals prone to
becoming a criminal
- Atavistic Features
o Thieves:
Small,wandering eyes
Expressive faces
o Murderers
Cold,Glassy stares
Hawk-like noses
- Lombroso conducted research where he examined the faces + cranium
features of Italian convicts = 40% of offenders had atavistic features
NEURAL EXPLANATION: ( Modern day explanation for offending )
1. Brain Structure
o Argues that there are neural differences in the brain of offenders
+ non-offenders
o Brain scans have shown that individuals with Anti-Social
Personality disorder (APD) = Reduced activity in prefrontal
cortex
Leading to inability to express empathy
Offenders seem to have APD
2. Neurotransmitters
o Increased levels of norepinephrine
Aggressive behaviour
o Decreased levels of norepinephrine
Antisocial behaviour
o Reduced levels of serotonin in the limbic system are also
associated with criminal behaviour
GENETIC EXPLANATION:
- Suggests the inheritance of particular genetic factors could predispose
individuals to commit crimes
o TWIN STUDIES SUPPORT THE GENETIC LINK
TS of 3500 twins in Denmark = Concordance rates for
offending behaviour was 35% for MZ males + 13% for DZ
males
Suggests that there is a a genetic factor
determine criminality
o CANDIDATE GENES
MAOA gene = Responsible for regulating serotonin +
dopamine
Mutations in candidate genes found in offenders
Mutation is associated with violent behaviours
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