Deck 2: Biological and Evolutionary Explanations Psychology of Criminal Behaviour

Question 1

What is the most important type of methodology a behavioural genetics researcher would employ?

A)twin methodology
B)case study methodology
C)self-report methodology
D)CT scan methodology

Answer 1

twin methodology

Question 2

The MAOA gene has been linked to aggressive behaviour when the activity of the gene in a person is:

A)low
B)moderate
C)high
D)undetectable

Answer 2

low

Question 3

Which neurotransmitter plays an important role in behavioural inhibition and mood regulation?

A)tryptophan
B)adrenaline
C)dopamine
D)serotonin

Answer 3

serotonin

Question 4

If concordance rates/correlations for antisocial behaviour are higher for the biological parents and the adopted offspring than the adoptive parents and the adopted offspring,then which is inferred?

A)environmental contributions
B)genetic contributions
C)intra-individual contributions
D)inter-family contributions

Question 5

Heritability coefficient represents the proportion of genotypic variance of a given behaviour.

Question 6

One of the reasons why researchers think there is a link between serotonin and antisocial behaviour is that:

A)low levels of serotonin makes it difficult for people to learn from punishment
B)low levels of serotonin are associated with high levels of impulsivity
C)those with antisocial personality disorder tend to have low serotonin levels
D)committing crimes has a direct effect on neurotransmitter levels

Question 7

It is safe to say that given our current understanding of antisocial behaviour that:

A)genes exert less influence in adulthood than in childhood
B)the gene-crime link is likely a direct conduit
C)there is relatively similar rates for males and females
D)it results from a series of complex interactions between numerous factors

Question 8

Rhee and Waldman (2002) completed the most comprehensive meta-analytic review of twin and adoption studies on antisocial behaviour and concluded that the variance in antisocial behaviour that can be attributed to heritability is:

A)8%
B)89%
C)41%
D)21%

Question 9

Contrary to popular belief,genetic studies are just as much about the environment as they are about genes.

Question 10

Concordance rates are typically converted into a heritability coefficient which represents what type of variance in the population?

A)proportion of genotypic variance
B)proportion of phenotypic variance
C)proportion of environmental variance
D)proportion of ancestral variance

Question 11

Hormone production and distribution are regulated in the human body by which system?

A)endocrine
B)autonomic
C)parasympathetic
D)fluid

Question 12

A study conducted by Mednick et al.(1984),examining the records of over 14 000 adoptions,found rates of criminal offending were highest for adopted children when:

A)both their biological and adoptive parents had a criminal record
B)their adoptive parents had a criminal record but their biological parents did not
C)their biological parents had a criminal record but their adoptive parents did not
D)neither their biological nor their adoptive parents had a criminal record

Question 13

Research examining heart rate and electrodermal activity (also called galvanic skin response) has found that compared to non-antisocial individuals,antisocial individuals tend to have:

A)both low heart rate and electrodermal activity
B)low heart rate and high electrodermal activity
C)high heart rate and low electrodermal activity
D)both high heart rate and electrodermal activity

Question 14

While hormones are the messengers of the endocrine system,neurotransmitters are the messengers of which system?

A)nervous system
B)skeletal system
C)reproductive system
D)spinal cord system

Question 15

The "father of criminology" is considered to be:

A)Francis Galton
B)Charles Darwin
C)Cesare Lombroso
D)Johann Spurzheim

Question 16

On average,serotonin levels among antisocial individuals are lower than for non-antisocial individuals:

A)if the target of violence is known to the perpetrator
B)if the perpetrator is male
C)if the perpetrator has a history of suicide
D)regardless of gender,target victim,and history of suicide

Question 17

Two meta-analyses have found that there is a link between the hormone testosterone and:

A)property crimes
B)aggression
C)impaired driving
D)white collar crime

Question 18

Schoenthaler (1983) showed that,with incarcerated young offenders,a healthy diet plan:

A)increased socializing by 75%
B)reduced antisocial behaviour by 48%
C)increased antisocial behaviour by 20%
D)reduced antisocial behaviour by 12%

Question 19

An evolutionary theorist explains criminal behaviour by examining if

A)genes function differently in offenders and non-offenders
B)brain images differ between offenders and non-offenders
C)offending behaviours were adaptive to survival back in ancestral environments
D)historical documents spanning certain time periods mention offending behaviours

Question 20

The fact that women's ability to produce offspring is restricted compared to men is referred to as:

A)Evolutionary birth theory
B)Chromosomal birth variance
C)Reproductive fitness variance
D)Gendered crime theory

Question 21

Selection pressures are adaptive problems that those in our ancestral environment had to solve to survive,such as finding a mate,hunting and gathering,and protecting their children.

Question 22

The gene implicated in antisocial behaviour and aggression,the low-activity MAOA gene,expresses itself only in the presence of certain environmental cues,such as childhood abuse or provocation.

Question 23

Explain how "twins studies" methodology works.

Question 24

Summarize the key conclusions made by Yang and Raine (2009) regarding brain structures and antisocial behaviour.

Question 25

Describe and explain how evolutionary forensic psychology has been applied to criminal offending with specific reference to two of the following: life history theory,psychopathy,homicide,and female offending.

Question 26

Describe early biological and evolutionary explanations of crime and some of the issues with early theories.

Question 27

Evolutionary theories are considered to be proximate explanations of crime.

Question 28

Environments such as positive parenting can reverse the negative effects of fetal and birth complications on antisocial behaviour.

Question 29

The "gene-crime" link is a direct conduit and not influenced by mediating effects such as low intelligence and impulsivity.

Question 30

The relationship between testosterone and aggression in humans is positive and strong.

Question 31

Biology can predispose an individual to future antisocial behaviour.

Question 32

Childhood maltreatment (e.g.,physical abuse,emotional abuse,sexual abuse,neglect) contributes to the development of antisocial and criminal behaviour.

Question 33

Having hypoglycemia decreases the likelihood that someone will engage in antisocial behaviour.

Question 34

Increases in heart rate and electrodermal activity signal fear,anger,and anxiety responses.

Question 35

Describe the neuroimaging and neuropsychological approaches to explaining crime,as well as the main findings of research that study these approaches.

Question 36

Describe two common criticisms of twin study research.

Question 37

Describe the design and results of Caspi et al.'s (2002) groundbreaking study demonstrating the interaction of a specific gene and childhood maltreatment.