5. Brain Injury and Criminal Behaviour

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About this Lecture

Lecture

In this lecture, we think about how brain injury can influence violence and criminal behaviour, focusing in particular on: (i) the potential impacts of prefrontal cortex damage on criminal behaviour and violence; (ii) the potentially greater severity of traumatic brain injury (TBI) for those under 25, due to the fact that impulsivity control and planning abilities are still developing; (iii) the strengths and weaknesses of using brain injury evidence to assess the impact of certain brain areas on behaviour; (iv) the specific evidence for the role of the amygdala in aggressive and anti-social behaviour.

Course

In this course, Professor Ciarán O’Keeffe (Buckinghamshire New University) explores biological explanations for offending. In the first lecture, we think about the concept of ‘making a criminal’ and the transition from philosophical to scientific methodologies. In the second lecture, we think about biological strategies for preventing criminal behaviour, including nutritional interventions and facial surgery for criminals. In the third lecture, we think about the Raine et al. (1997) study, which identified brain areas linked to violence and aggression. Next, we think about the Haney et al. (1973) study, also known as the Stanford Prison Experiment, run by Philip Zimbardo. In the fifth lecture, we think about how brain injury can influence violence and aggression, as well as the ability for brain injury research to inform our understanding of this field. In the sixth and final lecture, we think about XYY syndrome and the mixed results research on it have found regarding its impact on violence, aggression and criminal behaviour.

Lecturer

Professor Ciarán O’Keeffe is associate professor of education and research and head of the School of Human and Social Sciences at Buckinghamshire New University. Professor O’Keeffe’s research interests include investigative psychology and parapsychology, and has made numerous television and radio appearances alongside an array of celebrities. Some of Professor O’Keeffe’s recent publications include 'Things That Go Bump In The Literature: An Environmental Appraisal of 'Haunted Houses'' (2020) and 'Restorative Justice and Recidivism: Investigating the impact of victim-preference for level of engagement' (2014).