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Evaluation of AMYGDALA (bio explanations of crime) (SUPPORTING STUDIES (E…
Evaluation of AMYGDALA (bio explanations of crime)
SUPPORTING STUDIES
E
Found that psychopathic individuals had reduced Amygdala activity during moral decision making = FMrI Scans
E
Demonstrates how damage to Amygdala can be related to problematic behaviour and this finding seems consistent across several research studies
P
Glenn et al
COMPLIMENTS AND CRITISICISMS
Good
E
From Brain Scans you gather Quantitative data, looking at activity levels in the brain
E
Therefore, they gather objective, scientific and credible evidence
P
Evidence from Brain Scanning can be seen as highly Reliable and Objective (not influenced by emotions, opinions, or personal feelings)
Bad
E
Although studies might show relationship between Amygdala and Aggression, we cannot be sure that this impairment causes the behaviour
E
Therefore, as they often investigate an individual AFTER the crime, there are other factors that could be involved
P
Cannot establish Cause and Effect relationship
DIFFERENT THEORIES
E
Other factors can implicate criminal behaviour (e.g. genes or social explanations), so there is unlikely to be one single explanation
E
Therefore, looking at the Amygdala only acknowledges the nature side of the debate, not the nurture = reductionist explanation
P
May be alternative explanations
APPLICATIONS
E
Accountability = can't change Amygdala injury
E
P
:check: Applications
+
E
James Fallon used MRI scans to investigate several brains and developed the ability to identify which o f the brains belonged to Psychopaths = his own brain
E
Shows that you can have brain different without behaviour = cannot be sure that such brain differences cause criminality
P
Cannot establish Cause and Effect relationship (again)
FACTS
In the Limbic System
Controls emotions and fear
Damage = lack of self-control and fearlessness