THE CRIMINAL MIND

“Advances in genetics and neuroscience are revolutionizing our understanding of violent behavior – as well as ideas about how to prevent and punish crime”

By: Dr Adrian Rain

Published: The Wall Street Journal, Saturday essay; April 26, 2013; www.online.wsj.com Alternatively, google the title and authors name

Level of Difficulty: ***

BEFORE YOU READ

·         Neuroscience and the Psychopath Inside with James Fallon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4MEQRgJbfU

QUESTIONS

1.       The light bulb moment for Lombroso that led to his famous theory was the discovery……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2.       What does “These beliefs” at the beginning of paragraph three refer to? Careful; this isn’t your run of the mill reference.

3.       The roots of the theory of eugenics can be traced back to………………………………………………..

4.       Which aspect of Lombroso’s theory has gained new popularity?

5.       Read the paragraphs concerning neurocriminology and complete the following: the field of neurocriminology has established that ……………………………………………….. determine future deviant behavior.

6.       The linking of criminal behavior overwhelmingly to genetics means automatically that ………………………will have less of an influence. This in turn will have two disastrous consequences: …………………………………………………….and…………………………………...............

7.       According to the 1984 Denmark study, a close correlation was established between…………………………………………… and ……………………………………………………………(Tweak the text)

8.       The reason why lead is blamed for the initial rise and later drop in crime rates in the US is the fact that …………………………………………………………………………………………….................

9.       Why exactly is a low level of MAOA and childhood abuse indicators of future criminal behavior?

10.   Why do serial killers not fit the norm concerning the prefrontal cortex?

11.   What is the take home point from the Los Angeles study?

12.   Read Mr. Page’s story as far as “This brings us to the second major change”. Now select the correct answer.

·         Mr. Page had been let down by the state

·         Mr. Page had poor impulse and emotional control

·         The doctors’ findings could have kept Mr. Page locked up or saved his neck depending on the circumstances

·         All of the above

·         None of the above

13.   According to the New Mexico study, two physical factors seem to increase the probability of repeat offences. These are ……………………………………….and ……………………………………………………..

14.   The future applications of the research discussed so far would involve both ……………………………………………and……………………………………………………………………………………………

15.   Which of the solutions suggested for the problem would be easier to implement?

WRITING TASK

Write an essay discussing the advantages and disadvantages of benefitting from the findings of neurocriminology to make the world a better place. Before writing your essay, you might like to read this second article on the same issue: "How to Spot a Murderer's Brain" by Tom Adams. The link is: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/may/12/how-to-spot-a-murderers-brain?guni=Keyword:news-grid%20aux-1%20Pixies:Pixies:Position5

The advantages

·         Universal preventive measure could be implemented: widespread Omega3 supplementation, physical exercise and cognitive stimulation

·         A stitch in time saves nine: children with problems identified early and treated with medication.

·         Potential repeat offenders identified prior to parole hearings

·         Perpetrators of violent crimes with biological problems escape unfair punishment

The Disadvantages

·         Eugenics could re emerge

·         Ostensibly innocent victims could be stigmatized

·         Society could take a soft approach to crime

·         The idea of human agency and free will could be eroded

THE CRIMINAL MIND KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES

This fascinating text highlights the new discoveries that indicate fundamental physical differences between the brains of violent criminals and those of normal people. The amygdale is smaller for instance and the prefrontal cortex is stunted. The implications of these findings can lead to some interesting discussions whether the perpetrator is indeed responsible for the crime and to what extent? What we should the do with these offenders? Whether the findings can give rise to some preventive measures? The writing task is closely linked to the text and the whole activity has a definite wow factor.

1.       Of an unusual indentation at the base of Villa’s skull

2.       That crime originated in large measure from deformities of the brain and that criminals were an evolutionary throw back to primitive times

3.       Lombroso’s controversial theory (from the theory which is a reference)

4.       His emphasis on physiology and brain traits

5.       Genetics and a poor environment

6.   Human agency or free will; Taking a soft approach to crime; stigmatizing ostensibly innocent people

7.       Number of offences the biological parents had; the convictions of their sons

8.       No other single factor can account for both the inexplicable rise in violence in the US until 1993 and the precipitous drop since then

9.       Low MAOA has been linked to reduced volume in the amygdale; physical child abuse can damage the frontal part of the brain

10.   They must be able to regulate their behavior carefully in order to escape detection for a long time.

11.   Psychopaths know at a cognitive level what is right and what is wrong but they don’t feel it

12.   All of the above

13.   Low activity in the anterior cingulated cortex and a smaller amygdale

14.   Assessing criminals for their propensity to reoffend and assessing any individual in society for his or her criminal propensity.

15.   Omega 3 supplements, better nutrition, physical exercise and cognitive stimulation