Criminal Behavior and Brain Dysfunction

Criminal Behavior and Brain Dysfunction

Rebecca Ledbetter

CRJ 308

Instructor: Tamara Schnepel

Date: 05/14/2017

After viewing the video, “The Brain and Violence: Secrets of your Mind”, the conclusion upon which I draw is that individuals all over have the possibility of being predisposed to criminal violence, regardless whether they have a brain abnormality or a brain dysfunction.  I believe that neurological and genetic factors will manifest to criminal behavioral tendencies, if individuals are exposed to an environment that is unhealthy.  “Brain dysfunction, which may have resulted from severe physical abuse and head injuries in childhood, could predispose to poor decision-making, lack of self-insight, lack of affect, and poor behavioral control, which in turn predisposes to callous, disinhibited behavior”. (Yaling, Glenn, & Raine, 2008).

When looking at the structure of the brain, “key regions commonly found to be impaired in antisocial populations include the prefrontal cortex (particularly orbit frontal and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), superior temporal gyrus, amygdala-hippocampal complex, and anterior cingulate cortex”, (Yaling, Glenn, & Raine, 2008).  An example of how sustaining damage to certain regions of the brain could lead one to engage in criminal activity is the case of “Chris Benoit”, (ABC News, 2010).  Famous wrestler, Chris Benoit took the life of his child and his wife and then himself.  Benoit’s father donated his son’s brain to research wanting answers to why his son would commit such a horrific criminal act.  Through research it was discovered that Benoit’s brain (frontal lobe) had chronic nerve cell damage after years of concussions and being hit in the head during his years of wrestling; hence, hypothesizing that this horrific crime resulted from damage Benoit’s brain received from continuous blows to his head.

 “With increasing concerns expressed about TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) among soldiers returning from wars such as that of Iraq, and those engaged in body contact sports a rigorous examination of the purported link between TBI and criminality is relevant, timely and important”, (Schofield, Malacova, etc., 2015).  As the mother of a soldier, I have great concern of what TBI may lead to where my son is concerned in his future.  At the present, my son has severe headaches, which causes me to wonder if his symptoms can turn into something much worse.  My son is presently hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, and I worry about him, but I can’t ask him to stop living his life, so all I can do is be there for him.  All the focus around TBI, causes me to worry about my grandsons as well, out there playing sports, they are still growing, although neither of them have suffered a severe injury, is their life possibly going to be impacted if they do suffer a head injury as “Mike Webster’s” life was impacted? (ABC News, 2010).

On the genetic side of criminal behavior, ABC News held an interview with Neuroscientist James Fallon, better known for discovering the “lack of coloring in the frontal lobe of the brain in murderers” This lack of coloring is inclusive of the lack of ability to show sympathy for criminal acts that the individuals are committing.  James Fallon, performed this study on his family (siblings, his children) and himself, finding, that he was the only individual in his family that carried the same genetic foundation of a murderer.

The possible chemical imbalance inside the brain which could incite one to commit a criminal act, is the scariest part of all this.  Personality disorders as well as other mental illnesses, in my belief could hold chemical imbalances as well, such as PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).  I watch my son at times, who has PTSD, and I often wonder if he will be able to control this or not with or without medication.  Is he going to end up “victim” of PTSD and possibly hurt someone he loves, like that of the military families in Fort Bragg, NC, or Fort Hood, TX?  The damage to my son’s brain, he received while he was active duty in the war, and actions he witnessed and took part in.