Criminal Behaviour Biological explanation: Role of the Amygdala

Role of the Amygdala

Another possible explanation for criminal behaviour is the influence of the brain and nervous system, mostly applicable to crimes featuring AGGRESSION. Research focuses on the role of the Amygdala; it has been associated with "Fear Conditioning". As children learning to inhibit our aggressive and antisocial behaviour through fear conditioning; i.e learning to associate the emotion 'Angry' with certain punishments or other negative outcomes. Example: child knows not to hit another child because the teacher might otherwise shout at them. It's the Amygdala that is involved in processing fear; 'dysfunction' of amygdala means child cannot identify social cues that indicate threat, i.e child should be scared and therefore not act in aggressive manner. Example; may NOT associate angry faces with fear and may NOT associate prison with fear. Therefore may be more likely to commit aggressive crimes. Dysfunction of the amygdala = fear conditioning disrupted: Individual likely to seem fearless, overly aggressive and antisocial. Eysenck suggested individuals with intact fear conditioning develop a conscience that deters them from antisocial and aggressive behaviour.

What is a psychopath?

A form of anti-social personality disorder. Are manipulative, emotionless, cunning, deceitful and show lack of empathy. Research shown that amygdala dysfunction