{"id":750,"date":"2016-10-04T00:28:29","date_gmt":"2016-10-04T00:28:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/101psych.com\/?p=750"},"modified":"2020-05-25T11:02:31","modified_gmt":"2020-05-25T02:02:31","slug":"the-criminal-brain-introduction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/2016\/10\/04\/the-criminal-brain-introduction\/","title":{"rendered":"The Criminal Brain<\/br>An introduction to the brain and criminology<\/font>"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brain Function: An Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Frontal Lobe, the Amygdala and the Prefrontal Cortex<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Numerous studies have shown that there are correlations found between brain function and violent behaviour. In order to fully understand these studies, it\u2019s important to have a general understanding of some of the functions of these parts of the brain. The brain is labelled as having different \u201clobes\u201d.<\/p>\n

One important function of the frontal lobe<\/strong> is to regulate our impulsive decision making. It also lets us make long-term decision making in the sense that it allows us to foresee and imagine possible implications for our actions. It kind of acts like a \u201cbreak\u201d on our impulsive behaviour. So when you get really angry at your teacher and you want to curse but don\u2019t because you know that it will get you in trouble, you have your frontal lobe to thank. The impulsivity of young children can be explained through their still-developing frontal lobes.<\/p>\n

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Here we can see how the brain has different “lobes”. In this course we will learn a lot about the frontal and prefrontal area (above the forehead).<\/p><\/div>\n

When learning about the brain, it\u2019s always important to remember that brain function is complex and to avoid the allure of simplifying down to claims like \u201cour frontal lobes control our behaviour.\u201d Human behaviour is far too complex, as is the brain, for both to be boiled down to such a simple statement. A more accurate statement would be \u201cour frontal lobes are associated with<\/em> self-control.\u201d The phrase \u201cassociated with\u201d is a useful one when discussing the brain because it suggests a correlation between brain function and behaviour without oversimplifying the relationship.<\/p>\n

The prefrontal cortex <\/strong>is the area at the very front of the brain. The cortex refers to the dense outer layer of the brain where 90% of the brain\u2019s neurons are. (Here’s a video <\/a>if you want to learn more).<\/p>\n

One of the first and most famous studies of a man who had severe damage to his frontal lobe was that of Phineas Gage. Gage was a railroad worker who was putting dynamite into rocks while working with a team to lay tracks. As he used a six-foot bar to pound the dynamite powder into the rocks it ignited, essentially making the long steel pole a bullet that fired up through his left eye, through his skull and landed about 50ft away. Gage survived and was even conscious while he rode on the ox cart to the nearest town. As a result of the incident, Gage\u2019s behaviour seemed to change as he went from being a rather mild-mannered man to \u201cno longer Gage\u201d as his friends said. This was in 1948 and Harow, the Doctor who treated Gage, made a few observations about the change in Gage\u2019s behaviour that has made him one of the first and most famous cases that links brain damage to personality change.<\/p>\n

Since Phineas Gage there have been heaps of studies into the correlations between brain damage, brain function and behaviour. With modern imaging technology (MRI\u2019s, fMRI\u2019s, PETs, etc.) researchers can investigate further connections between brain function and behaviour.<\/p>\n

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Understanding the brain is a key theme in our unit on Criminology. This covers most of the Biological Approach in IB Psychology and some other topics, too.<\/p><\/div>\n

So based on this, would you think that people who act violently have normal functioning, high functioning or low functioning frontal lobes?<\/p>\n

The biological correlates of criminal behaviour has been the subject of numerous studies. Time and again research has shown that there are common brain functioning and activity differences in criminals when compared with healthy and normal controls.<\/p>\n

When researching these correlates it\u2019s important to remember their general function, but not to oversimplify the biological processes underpinning human behaviour.<\/p>\n

Summary<\/h2>\n