Category Archives: OCR A2 Psychology

Brunner et al,. (1993) – Genes and Serotonin

Biology, Forensic Psychology, OCR A2 Psychology, Turning to Crime, , , , ,

Brunner et al,. (1993) – ‘Abnormal behaviour associated with a point mutation in the structural gene for monamine oxidase A,’ Science 262 (S133), 578-80.

 

 

Background

This is the second study we look at from the ‘Biology’ section of ‘Turning to Crime’. As part of your OCR A2 Psychology Exam. It is further categorised into ‘Genes and Serotonin.’

How much do genes and neurotransmitters contribute to the development of criminal behaviour? As this study is from the biological section, you may not be surprised to find out that genes and serotonin are central to the study. “Studies of aggressive behaviour in animals and humans have implicated altered metabolism of serotonin, and to a lesser extent dopamine, and noradrenaline [also known as norepinephrine] . Continue reading Brunner et al,. (1993) – Genes and Serotonin →

Raine et al., (2002) – Brain Dysfunction

Biology, Forensic Psychology, OCR A2 Psychology, Turning to Crime, , ,

Raine et al,. (2002) – ‘Prefrontal Structural and Functional Deficits in Schizotypal Personality Disorder’

Background

Phineas Gage


Continue reading Raine et al., (2002) – Brain Dysfunction →

Guðjónsson and Bownes (2002): The Attribution of Blame and Type of Crime Committed

Cognition, Forensic Psychology, OCR A2 Psychology, Turning to Crime, , ,

Guðjónsson and Bownes,  (2002) – ‘The attribution of blame and type of crime committed: data for Northern Ireland‘

 

Background

This study in the OCR A2 specification and Forensic Psychology Unit is categorised in ‘Turning to Crime,‘ ‘Cognition,‘ and then ‘Attribution of Blame and Social Cognition.‘

Social Cognition is ‘the study of how people process social information, especially its encoding, storage, retrieval, and application to social application.’

There are two background theories for this study:

  • Rotter (1975) – Locus of Control
  • Heider (1958) – Attribution Theory

Continue reading Guðjónsson and Bownes (2002): The Attribution of Blame and Type of Crime Committed →

Lawrence Kohlbery

Kohlberg (1981) – The Philosophy of Moral Development

Cognition, Forensic Psychology, OCR A2 Psychology, Turning to Crime, , ,

Kohlberg (1981) – The Philosophy of Moral Development, New York: Harper and Row

 

Background

This study is the second we look at the cognition section from Turning to Crime. It is further categorised into ‘Moral development and crime.’

The background to this research is Freud’s theory of development, which Kohlberg extended.

Freud believed that when children are born they only have the ID present, which means they are egocentric and do not care about anyone else but themselves. Later, the ego and the superego develop which allow people to understand morality.

Watch this video before proceeding: Continue reading Kohlberg (1981) – The Philosophy of Moral Development →

Yochelson, S. and Samenow, S. (1976): A Study of Thinking Patterns in Criminals

Cognition, Forensic Psychology, OCR A2 Psychology, Turning to Crime, , ,

Yochelson, S. and Samenow, S. (1976) – ‘A Study of Thinking Patterns in Criminals

 

 

Background

This is the first study we will be looking at from ‘Cognition‘ and ‘Turning to Crime’. From your OCR A2 G543 Psychology exam. It is further categorised into ‘Criminal thinking patterns.’

There are two background studies to Yochelson and Samenow (1976):

  • Cornish & Clark (1987)
  • Hollin (2001)

Cornish & Clark (1987)

State that criminal behaviour is the result of a rational thinking process, criminals have reasoned and thought about their crimes prior to committing them, often making a cost-benefit analysis to determine if the crime is worth committing based upon the potential rewards and the risks involved.
Continue reading Yochelson, S. and Samenow, S. (1976): A Study of Thinking Patterns in Criminals →