The Neuroscience of Acquisitive/Impulsive Offending

Abstract

The aim of the chapter is to give both an overview and history of the burgeoning field of neuroscience. r In the chapter, it is noted that the interest in understanding why individuals commit crime, from a neurobiological perspective, dates as far back as the early 19th century with Franz Joseph Gall's phrenology and the work of Italian criminologist Cesare Lombroso.r The heavy focus on the brain rather fell into abeyance in the early part of the 20th century, with there being more interest in sociological explanations of crime and only a relatively few researchers noticing the importance of the brain in understanding offending.r An understanding of the relationship between brain dysfunction and criminal behavior really started to pick-up again in the 1980s. Attention started to turn to why humans need such large brains, and the idea that this is needed for coalition formation and tactical deception, which interestingly are rarely seen in other species (the social brain hypothesis).r The most important area of the brain associated with social functioning is the limbic system. This area is a loosely defined collection of brain structures that play crucial roles in the control of emotions and motivation.r It is noted that a number of genetic and environmental problems (e.g., adverse developmental courses, early deprivation, and other suboptimal rearing conditions) can have an effect upon these areas.r The ensuing atypical morphological organization could result in social withdrawal, explosive and inappropriate emotionality, pathological shyness, and an inability to form normal emotional attachments (Joseph, 2003). It can also set the scene for later antisocial behaviors.