Criminology Notes 2 16 02 18 2011 Bio and Psychological Theories of Crime Biological Correlates of Crime Neurological factors brain centered o Brain activity o Neuro chemical o Autonomic Nervous System Biological Harms o Perinatal in the womb o Hormones o Nutrition Diet Brain Activity o Prefrontal cortex executive functioning Attention self monitoring inhibition control o PET scans shows brain activity Murderers less activity in prefrontal cortex o MRIs 3D image of brain structure People with APD antisocial personality disorder have less grey matter in prefrontal cortex Neurochemical and ANS Measures o Neurotransmitters Low serotonin impulsivity aggression o Autonomic Nervous System ANS Suggestion criminals have lower resting heartrate Biological Harms o Perinatal Risks High risk behavior maternal Trauma during delivery Low birth weight Linked to ADHD delinquency violent offending Link even stronger when combined with environmental risks Biology Theory and Policy o Programs to improve early childhood parenting Nurse home visitation programs High risk pregnant women Visited during pregnancy and infancy Mothers held less high risk behaviors Teens had less risky behavior as teenagers Critiques of Neobiological Theories o Very small sample sizes small effects o Incarcerated populations o Indirect effects causality unclear o Too deterministic Psychological Theories Psychoanalytic Theory Not on Test Learning and Behavioral Psychology o All behavior is learned o People are based on responses to rewards and feedback Classical Conditioning Pavlov trained dogs John Watson Little Albert Operant Conditioning B F Skinner Most associated with criminal behavior Behavior Reinforcement Punishment Positive Reinforcement something given to Negative Reinforcement something removed to increase action increase action Punishment something happens to decrease suppress action Albert Bandura Bobo Doll Study people learn aggression by observing others Personality Traits and Crime Intelligence and Crime o Origins Goring 1913 feeblemindedness Believed mental age of prisoners lower Research did not support results o IQ might be a strong correlate of crime All else being equal lower IQ more delinquency BUT cultural bias in IQ testing school failure complicates relationship Psychological Theory and Policy Shifting emphasis 1890s 1960s Why is this individual a criminal Positivism encouraged rehabilitation o Prisons now correctional facilities o Juvenile facilities now reformatories Individual focus of punishment Parole Boards 02 18 2011 02 18 2011
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