Deck 3: Origins of Criminal Behavior: Biological Factors

Question 1

In their study involving 4,000 Danish babies ages birth to 34, Raine, Brennan and Mednick (1997) found that:

A) birth complications combined with early maternal rejection predicted careers of violent crime.
B) there was no correlation between birth complications and antisocial behavior.
C) early maternal rejection predicted non-violent crime.
D) birth complications predicted drug use.
E) marital discord predicted non-violent crime.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The MAOA-L gene has been nicknamed the:

A) warrior gene.
B) apocalyptic predictor.
C) mood enhancer.
D) zen master.
E) terminator gene.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Two strong indicators of temperament are:

A) language and eating patterns.
B) eye contact and intelligence.
C) extraversion and introversion.
D) eye color and peer support.
E) emotionality and activity.

Answer 3

E

Question 4

The term dizygotic twins is synonymous with:

A) fraternal twins.
B) identical twins.
C) dichorionic.
D) unifertilization.
E) none of the above.

Question 5

The phenomenon in which the brain's structure and function are affected by experience is called:

A) intelligence quotient.
B) elasticity.
C) durability.
D) plasticity.
E) neural synapse

Question 6

Which statement most accurately summarizes findings on twin and adoption studies?

A) One's environment significantly impacts the frequency and severity of criminal behavior.
B) Genetic factors have little impact on antisocial behavior.
C) The environment in which a child is raised has little impact on the likelihood of antisocial behavior.
D) Genes may influence one's susceptibility or resistance to environmental risk factors.
E) Genes do not significantly impact one's susceptibility to environmental risk factors.

Question 7

Which of the following is not a source of behavioral differences, according to traditional behavioral genetics?

A) Environmental influences shared by siblings
B) Gender of each child
C) Influences that arise from unshared environmental experiences that makes siblings different from one another
D) Influences attributed to genetic effects
E) Family influences

Question 8

All of the following processes are considered executive functions except:

A) Logic
B) Reasoning
C) Fidgeting
D) Problem solving
E) Self-control

Question 9

According to noted biopsychologist Adrian Raine:

A) the majority of studies examining the relationship between antisocial behavior are fatally flawed.
B) there is no evidence to suggest that genetics influence antisocial behavior.
C) some children are born destined to become antisocial.
D) there is evidence to suggest that antisocial behavior may eventually affect one's genetic make-up.
E) there is clear evidence that genetics influence antisocial and aggressive behavior.

Question 10

Sarah and Rebecca developed from a single egg, share the same genes, and currently live at 517 Huckleberry Lane, and attend the same school. They are examples of:

A) monozygotic, monochorionic, identical twins who share an environment.
B) monozygotic, dichorionic, nonshared twins.
C) identical, dichorionic, shared siblings.
D) unichorionic, unizygotic, concordant, monoenvironmental siblings.
E) monochorionic, identical , concordant twins who shared a membrane.

Question 11

Most contemporary researchers of temperament focus on:

A) school-aged children.
B) incarcerated males.
C) families with two or more children.
D) infants.
E) pre-school girls.

Question 12

Early onset persistent antisocial behavior seems influenced by _____ while late onset offending is influenced by _____ factors.

A) biological; social
B) social; biological
C) parental; educational
D) parental; socioeconomic
E) protective; resiliency

Question 13

Research has suggested that which brain chemical may play a significant role in aggression and violence?

A) Serotonin
B) Epinephrine
C) Dopamine
D) Insulin
E) Cortisol

Question 14

Most children display aggression in preschool and kindergarten but reduce these behaviors during early school years primarily due to:

A) socialization.
B) strict parental discipline.
C) developmental maturity.
D) fear.
E) psychological maturity.

Question 15

Concordance rate is usually expressed in:

A) degrees.
B) ectograms.
C) pairs.
D) percentages.
E) liters.

Question 16

The research on environmental risk factors during infancy indicates that:

A) lead exposure may be linked to antisocial behavior.
B) trans fats are closely associated with delinquent behavior.
C) junk foods often lead to persistent and violent criminal behavior.
D) an organic diet can greatly reduce likelihood of antisocial behavior.
E) high sugar intake before age two is linked to criminal behavior.

Question 17

Which statement is not true of the amygdala?

A) It is small and almond shaped.
B) It is located in the limbic system.
C) It is especially hardy and unaffected by developmental experiences.
D) It is associated with impulsive aggression.
E) It is a group of nerve cells.

Question 18

The small group of nerve cells in the brain involved in aggressive behavior is called the _____and is part of the _____system.

A) amygdala; limbic
B) frontal lobe; central nervous
C) hippocampus; limbic
D) atempora; activating
E) lafleur; peripheral nervous

Question 19

Dysfunction in the _____ has been strongly linked to violent behavior.

A) frontal lobe
B) temporal lobe
C) occipital lobe
D) parietal lobe
E) pituitary lobe

Question 20

Most contemporary biopsychologists believe:

A) genetic and neuropsychological variables play a part in criminal behavior.
B) genetic components are the sole causal agents of human behavior.
C) understanding the social environment is irrelevant in studying criminal behavior.
D) criminal behavior is an evolutionary throwback to an earlier stage in the evolution of man.
E) antisocial behavior is explained by somatyping.

Question 21

Compare and contrast behavior and molecular genetics.

Question 22

Neurological dysfunction due to faulty brain development is strongly linked to pathological violence.

Question 23

Adolescents are most vulnerable to risky behavior when they are with a group of their peers.

Question 24

Research on twin studies has shown that, as twins age, the influence of a shared environment increases while the influence of a nonshared environment wanes.

Question 25

According to Adrian Raine, how many genes are associated with antisocial behavior in humans?

A) One
B) Four
C) Seven
D) At least twenty
E) Over one hundred

Question 26

Temperament is determined largely by genetics.

Question 27

Which personality feature, commonly associated with antisocial behavior, shows high hereditability and little environmental influence?

A) Optimism
B) Empathy
C) Schizophrenic detachment
D) Temperament
E) Callous-unemotional traits

Question 28

Temperament appears in infancy and continues throughout life.

Question 29

TEDS is an acronym for:

A) Twins' Early Development Study
B) Twins Environmental Differentiation Study
C) Traditional Environmental Development on Siblings
D) The Early Diyzygotic Sample
E) Twins Environmental Determination Study

Question 30

Lead exposure and maternal malnutrition are examples of environmental hazards.

Question 31

According to Laurence Steinberg (2008, 2010), high risk taking during adolescence is explained by the interaction of the socioemotional and cognitive control systems. This theory is called:

A) Dual systems model
B) Executive function theory
C) Limbic theory
D) Introversion/Extroversion theory
E) Positivist model

Question 32

The ability to control one's behavior in accordance with internal standards is called:

A) non-risky behavior.
B) scrutinization.
C) self-regulation.
D) frontal-lobe control.
E) undoing.

Question 33

Recent research has found that brain stimulation after age five has little impact on growth and development.

Question 34

Define the terms dizygotic and monozygotic twins. Define a chorion and discuss how this term relates to twin studies and the study of criminal behavior.

Question 35

Who was Phineas Gage? How is he relevant to the study of criminal behavior?

Question 36

Most adolescent risk taking behaviors tend to continue throughout adulthood.

Question 37

Describe TEDS. Summarize what this research tells us about human behavior.

Question 38

As a group, biopsychologists believe that genetics are the sole cause of criminal behavior.

Question 39

The amygdala is located in the frontal lobe of the human brain.

Question 40

Which one of the following behaviors is an example of adolescent risk taking behavior?

A) Binge drinking
B) Participation in school athletics
C) Obtaining a driver's license
D) Video gaming
E) Walking to school

Question 41

What were some concerns with the high concordance rate found among monozygotic twins? Explain how at least one of these concerns can be addressed today.

Question 42

List and describe Thomas and Chess' temperaments.

Question 43

What does the research tell us about the relationship between neurotransmitters and aggressive behavior? What treatments may be the most effective and what caution should one consider when considering this treatment?

Question 44

Discuss the relationship between birth/pregnancy complications, psychosocial environment and antisocial behavior. What effect does one's psychosocial environment have on neurological deficits?