CRJS 450 THE PSYCHOPATH

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CRJS 450THE PSYCHOPATH

• Empirical Research on Psychopathy
• Biological Influences

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The Biological Perspective

• Study of the biological origins of psychopathy is
  founded upon the correlation between psychopathy,
  crime, and aggression drawing on findings from
  research on
• biology and crime
• biology and aggression
• The biological perspective includes
• Neuroanatomy/Neuropsychology
• Genetics
• Neurochemistry/Neurotransmitters
• Hormones
• Autonomic Reactivity

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Biological Origins of Psychopathy

• Research gaining the most attention in recent
  years is in neuroanatomy and neuropsychology with
  focus on the
• Prefrontal cortex
• Orbitofrontal cortex
• Limbic System
• Amygdala

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The Human Brain
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Components of the Human Brain
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Brain Imaging

• Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
• first scanning method to provide information on
  brain function as well as anatomy
• used in conjunction with small amounts of
  radiolabeled compounds to visualize brain anatomy
  and function.

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• newest most versatile medical imaging technology
  available - useful for imaging the brain and
  spine
• Produces highly refined images of the body's
  interior without surgery by using strong magnets
  and pulses of radio waves

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Research by Adrian Raine

• Found that violent offenders have shrunken
  prefrontal cortexes
• Affective but not predatory murderers show
  anomalies on PET scans

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The Prefrontal Cortex

• Plays a role in higher cognitive functions, such
  as concentration, planning, judgment, emotions,
  and personality determination.
• Frontal lobe is involved in motor skills
  (including speech) and cognitive functions
• Damage to the orbitofrontal cortex may play a
  role in violent behavior with differences between
  affective and predatory offenders.

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Research by James Blair

• Dysfunction in the psychopaths brain lies in the
  amygdala
• Amygdala regulates FEAR and emotion -dysfunction
  of Amygdala explains the psychopaths lack of
  fear and empathy.

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The Amygdala

• Part of the Limbic System located within the
  temporal lobe
• controls social and sexual behavior and other
  emotions.
• plays a critical role in processing emotion and
  mediating fear.

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Additional Findings

• Murderers
• Reduced prefrontal activity
• Poor functioning of the left angular gyrus (lies
  at junction of the temporal, parietal, and
  occipital regions) linked to reduced verbal
  ability
• Reductions in functioning of the corpus callosum
  (which provides lines of communication between
  left and right hemispheres) associated with
  inappropriate emotional expression and inability
  to comprehend long-term implications.
• Psychopaths
• Inhibited startle reflex in response to
  emotionally aversive stimuli.
• Low autonomic arousal as measured through skin
  conductivity/galvanic skin response

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The Final Word?

• Theories are not mutually exclusive
• Must be considered within an integrative
  framework
• Evidence from neuroimaging studies, and
  biological research findings in general, is
  promising but inconclusive.

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Treatment and Ethics

• Treatment implications of the biological
  perspective?
• Ethical legal Considerations particularly with
  respect to the criminal justice system?

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Recommended Reading

• Raine, A. (1993). The Psychopathology of Crime.
  New York Academic Press.
• Raine, A. Dunkin, J. (1990). The genetic and
  psychophysiological basis of antisocial
  behaviour Implications for counseling and
  therapy. Journal of Counseling Development,
  68, 637-644.
• Raine, A. Sanmartin, J. (Eds.) (2001).
  Violence and Psychopathy. New York Kluwer
  Academic/Plenum Publishers.