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Unit 2 set 14

Biological theories set 2

QuestionAnswer
What ethical issues arise when studying twins? Possible privacy violations, pressure to participate, and treating twins as research material rather than individuals.
What ethical issues arise in adoption studies? Risks include breaching confidentiality, revealing sensitive family information, and causing emotional harm by highlighting biological vs adoptive differences.
Should genetic findings influence public policy? Most criminologists argue no — policies must consider social factors and avoid biological discrimination.
What is XYY syndrome? A genetic condition where a male has an extra Y chromosome (47,XYY).
Why was XYY once linked to criminality? Early studies suggested XYY males were more aggressive — but this was overstated and scientifically discredited.
What is the modern view of XYY? It is not a cause of criminal behaviour; environmental factors matter more.
How did Phineas Gage’s case link brain injury to behaviour? Damage to his frontal lobe caused personality changes and poor impulse control.
What does the frontal lobe control? Impulse control, decision making, and social behaviour.
How can frontal‑lobe injuries relate to criminality? They can increase aggression, impulsivity, and rule‑breaking.
What did Williams et al. (2014) find about offenders? Around 60% of young offenders had a traumatic brain injury.
What did Raine’s brain‑scan research show? Violent offenders often have abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala.
What behavioural changes may follow brain injury? Aggression, impulsivity, poor judgement, personality shifts.
What is serotonin’s role in behaviour? Regulates mood and impulse control; low levels = aggression.
What did Virkkunen find? Violent offenders had lower serotonin levels.
What is dopamine linked to? Reward‑seeking, risk‑taking, thrill‑seeking behaviour.
What is testosterone linked to? Aggression, dominance, and violent behaviour.
What is a biochemical imbalance? Having too much or too little of a key chemical affecting behaviour.
What are neurotransmitters? Chemical messengers controlling mood, impulses, and behaviour.
What are hormones? Chemical regulators affecting emotion, aggression, stress, etc.
What is the MAOA “warrior gene”? A low‑activity version linked to aggression and impulsivity.
Which twins show higher concordance for crime? Identical (MZ) twins.
What do adoption studies show? Genetics play a role, but family environment also matters.
What behaviour is linked to low cortisol levels? Fearlessness, impulsivity, and reduced stress response.
Why might low cortisol increase criminal behaviour? People may feel less fear or guilt, making risky or violent acts more likely.
What did Pajer et al. (2001) find? Antisocial individuals had lower cortisol levels.
How are psychopaths often linked to cortisol? They tend to show low cortisol responses, making punishment less effective.
How can poor diet affect behaviour? Lack of nutrients can disrupt brain chemistry, increasing aggression.
What did Gesch et al. (2002) discover? Prisoners given vitamins, minerals, and Omega‑3 had a 35% reduction in violent behaviour.
How do drugs increase aggression? Drugs like cocaine and meth raise dopamine, increasing risk‑taking and irritability.
How does long‑term substance abuse affect self‑control? It damages the prefrontal cortex, reducing impulse control.
Which criminal case highlights drug‑linked aggression? Richard Ramirez (The Night Stalker), who used LSD and cocaine.
What did Raine et al. (1997) find about murderers’ brains? They showed abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex, linked to poor impulse control.
What is one key strength of biological theories? They provide scientific evidence linking brain chemistry to behaviour.
What is one major limitation? They often ignore environmental factors.
Why are biological theories ethically risky? They may justify discrimination or excusing crime based on biology.
Created by: Cabezablanca
 

 



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