Neural Explanations

Question 1

How does the Neural Explanation of Offending argue offenders are predisposed to offending?

Answer 1

As a result of neural differences in their brains

Question 2

Individuals with which disorder are the focus of much evidence in terms of the Neural Explanation of Offending, and what does this result in?

Answer 2

APD (Antisocial Personality Disorder), which is associated with reduced emotional responses and a lack of empathy

Question 3

What is the role of the Prefrontal Cortex?

Answer 3

To regulate emotional behaviour

Question 4

When is the Prefrontal Cortex fully developed, and how may this impact crime?

Answer 4

• Age 25
• Those under 25 may be more prone to crime as a result of having less emotional regulation

Question 5

Describe Raine’s APD Study

Answer 5

• Performed MRI’s on the brains of 21 men with a diagnosis of APD, and compared them to a control group of those without APD
• He concluded that they have reduced activity in the Prefrontal Cortex, meaning they experience less emotional regulation, and in turn less regulation in the amygdala, which is the area of the brain associated with aggression. As a result, they may be predisposed to violent crime
• He also found an 11% reduction in the volume of grey matter in the prefrontal cortex compared to those without APD

Question 6

Why may individuals with APD be more prone to crime?

Answer 6

APD is associated with reduced emotional responses and a lack of empathy and guilt. As a result, those with APD are less emotionally restricted, and therefore may be more likely to offend due to a lack of remorse

Question 7

What did Keysers conclude about those with APD and Mirror Neurons?

Answer 7

Their mirror neuron’s only fired when they were asked to emphasise, which suggests that those with APD have a neural empathy “switch” they can turn on and off

Question 8

What is role of Mirror Neurons in empathy?

Answer 8

By firing when we witness someone else’s emotional display as well as our own (eg. crying), they govern empathy and provide us with an understanding of how the individual is feeling

Question 9

Why can’t most evidence supporting Neural Explanations of Offending be generalised?

Answer 9

Because it focuses exclusively on those with APD

Question 10

Why are Neural Explanations of Offending socially sensitive? (2 Points)

Answer 10

• Much of the supporting evidence is focused on those with APD, which may result in prejudice
• Issues regarding the firing of mirror neuron’s has been implicated as a potential cause of autism, which may result in prejudice towards with with autism

Question 11

Why have Neural Explanations of Offending been criticised?

Answer 11

For being biologically reductionistic

Question 12

What is a potential applications of Neural Explanations of Offending?

Answer 12

Potential predictive power, as neuroimaging could be utilised to determine who is predisposed to offend, potentially reducing the likelihood of them doing so

Question 13

What two neural components have been implicated in Neural Explanations of Offending?

Answer 13

• The prefrontal cortex
• Mirror Neurons