Bridging Neuropsychology and Forensic Psychology: Executive Function Overlaps With the Central Eight Risk and Need Factors

Abstract

Recent research expanded theoretical frameworks of criminality to include biosocial perspectives. This article advances the biosocial integration into traditional criminological theories by focusing on the potential contribution of executive function (EF) to Andrews and Bonta’s risk-need-responsivity (RNR) model. EF encompasses a collection of abilities critical to adaptive human functioning, many of which seem to underlie criminogenic risk and need factors. Although the assessment of EF can be elusive, research suggests that offenders with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) experience EF deficits. Theoretical analysis on neuropsychological and forensic concepts suggests that unitary and discrete EF domains underlie the “Central Eight” criminogenic factors that are related to criminal behavior and, by extension, the RNR model of forensic assessment and treatment. Research and conceptual limitations of the current neuropsychological and forensic literature are discussed along with the limits of our theoretical analysis. A call for more theoretical and applied forensic neuropsychological research is presented.

Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Sexual Offenders: Associations With Sexual Recidivism Risk and Psychopathology

“…The excess of stress hormones can alter the brain's architecture, causing the amygdala to become over active, and misperceive benign environmental triggers as threatening (Alink et al, 2012). At the same time, areas of the brain that are involved in executive functioning may not develop as expected, leading to dysregulation, impulsivity, and impaired relationship skills (Cheng et al, 2019;Holley et al, 2017). These impairments can have a lasting impact into adulthood leading to the development of internalizing and externalizing forms of psychopathology.…”

“…Given the prevalence of ACEs in the current sample, it is important to understand the pathways through which childhood ACEs contribute to sexual offending later in life and how TIC models can be applied within this population (Cheng et al, 2019;Grady et al, 2016;Grady & Shields, 2018). For example, ACEs can represent relational trauma characterized by attachment disruption, parental betrayal, and/or intrapersonal invalidation.…”

“…When a child's caretakers are dangerous or unavailable, opportunities for modeling of healthy intimacy skills may be severely limited or absent. Accumulated childhood trauma may alter the neurobiology of the brain, as chronic hyperarousal impedes development of emotional and behavioral self-regulation (Cheng et al, 2019;Holley et al, 2017). Children growing up in abusive or chaotic families often adopt maladaptive rela-tional strategies that manifest as aggression, hostility, sexualized coping, intimacy deficits, or emotional congruence with children in adulthood (Beech & Mitchell, 2016).…”

Trauma-Informed Treatment Practices in Criminal Justice Settings

“…These neurocognitive deficits in adaptive functioning seem to underlie what are known as dynamic risk factors and the central eight criminogenic needs (Cheng et al, 2019;Wojciechowski, 2020). Most abused children do not grow up to engage in crime, but the risk for offending later in life increases due to biological, social, and psychological consequences of early trauma (Baglivio & Epps, 2016;Jäggi et al, 2016;Topitzes et al, 2011;Wallace et al, 2011).…”

Life on “the List” is a Life Lived in Fear: Post-Conviction Traumatic Stress in Men Convicted of Sexual Offenses

“…When children are exposed to ongoing trauma, survival mechanisms are strengthened while other areas of the brain-particularly executive functioning (cognitive processing, decision-making, and self-regulation)-are compromised. These neurocognitive deficits in adaptive functioning seem to underlie what are known as dynamic risk factors and the central eight criminogenic needs (Cheng et al, 2019;Wojciechowski, 2020).…”