Bio-psychologists believe that behaviour is hereditary and carried in the genes. The brain and nervous system are integral to this approach and the chemicals in our bodies such as the neurotransmitters and hormones have a large impact on our behaviour. This can be traced back to the genes and DNA as this is where the chemicals are produced. This approach believes that too much or too little of these chemicals can cause mental health problems such as depression and schizophrenia. 1 – The Biological approach treats mental illnesses as any other illness by labelling it, normally by using the DSM IV or ICD 10 then using drugs to treat the illness (or psychosurgery).
The testes release testosterone and the ovaries release oestrogen. These hormones are linked with sex-specific behaviours such as aggressiveness and spatial awareness. A study by Dabbs et al (1995) showed a possible link between prisoners’ testosterone levels and the crimes they had committed. Those with high levels of testosterone were more likely to have committed crimes involving sex and violence than those with lower levels. The biological approach does seem to be supported by the tragic case study of David Reimer.
The hippocampus on the other side is responsible for the production of corticosteroids (chemicals that produce physiological responses to stimuli). How the mind creates memories is controlled by the hippocampus. So as to work efficiently, the amygdala and the hippocampus rely on each other greatly. The amygdala regulates the responses to stimuli and the hippocampus uses these responses in the formation of both short-term and long-term memories. Damage to the amygdala or hippocampus causes loss of emotions and memory respectively.
6. Biological Psychology is the study of biological bases of psychological processes and behavior. Historical development of biological psychology, is explained by the fact that humans as well as animals can change according to environment, this is important in order to understand just how biology and psychology go together. This is an understanding that dates back to the ancient Greeks. Plato was the one that proposed that it was the brain that was indeed the organ of all reasoning.
People are concerned that a biological focus may become racist. The brain is the organ of the mind and the locus of personality. -The basic determinants of human behavior, including criminal tendencies, are to a considerable degree constitutionally or genetically based. -Observed gender and racial differences in rates and types of criminality may be at least partially the result of biological differences between the sexes and/or between racially distinct groups. -The basic determinants of human behavior, including criminality, may be passed on from generation to generation.
The rationale underlying the use of twins in explaining criminal behaviour is that if 1 MZ twin shows signs of aggressive behaviour, and the other one does too, then it is down to genetic influence. However if they other twin doesn't, then it means the environment must have something to do with it. If Harry did have a twin who also shows aggressive behaviour, which may due to his 'difficult family background', because he would share a 100% concordance with him, this would be why he showed aggressive behaviour and had criminal record. Studies were undergone which both supported and criticised this approach. One of the earliest studies done by Johannes Lange found that MZ twins showed a much higher degree of concordance for criminal behaviour than DZ twins.
This form of psychology is involved with the mind-body dispute and researchers how they affect one another. Biological psychology thrives to explain the brain and the nervous system and how they relate to human characteristics such as learning, thinking, feeling, and perception. The biopsychological approach includes an assumption that biological events can cause mental consequences and vise versa. The main assumption is that the mental process and biological events are directly linked together and work as one. The history of biological psychology dates all the way back to the Greeks.
Principles of Crime Causation: Biological and Psychological Basic Principles- Biological Perspectives of crime causation: • The brain is the organ of the mind and the locus of personality. In the words of the well-known bio-criminologist Clarence Ray Jeffery, "The brain is the organ of behavior; no theory of behavior can ignore neurology and neurochemistry. "(1) • The basic determinants of human behavior, including criminal tendencies, are, to a considerable degree, constitutionally or genetically based. • Observed gender and racial differences in rates and types of criminality may be at least partially the result of biological differences between the sexes and/or between racially distinct groups. • The basic determinants of human behavior, including criminality, may be passed on from generation to generation.
They both argue that ‘nothing works’ right realists are more concerned with solving crime rather than understanding the causes. As detailed in item a, right realism favours increasing the cost paid by those who commit crimes by for example giving harsher sentencing. Right realists such as James Wilson and Richard Herrnstien put forward a biosocial theory of crime. They believe that criminal behaviour is made up of biological and social factors. They believe that people may be biological more attracted to committing crime than others for example, they believe traits such as aggression and risk taking are inborn in the person and this causes them to commit crimes.
Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland that signals the body to break down inflammation as well as combat stress, increase metabolism, and suppress the immune system. The most commonly referred to steroid is anabolic steroids, which are the type that have such a bad reputation and are currently band in professional sports. Anabolic steroids are a synthetic version of the male sex hormone testosterone. This hormone is natural produced by the testicles. Testosterone tells body to increase muscle size and strength and allows you to