Brain Dysfunction in Criminal Behavior



Brain Dysfunction in Criminal Behavior

Introduction

Morality field designates the permitted and the forbidden, and, moreover, the subject's sense of obligation towards them. The moral domain covers especially those actions that involve the interest or property of persons other than the agent, requiring the existence of rules and of a party responsible for their actions. There are many causes for human behavior in all its diversity, and the same applies specifically to criminal behavior. The increase in global violence and crimes and criminal acts already receives priority attention (Fazel et al., 2009). In general, antisocial behavior can be defined as a general pattern of disregard and violation of the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood

Discussion

We often hear in a convict legal defense that “his brain made him do it”. The point put forward is that the brain of the criminal is different than normal citizens. Numerous studies have been conducted which studied the brains of mastermind criminals, and they came to the conclusion that the brains of these criminals are different than an ordinary citizen (Skeem & Cooke, 2010).

A normal human brain tends to censor the words, analyze the situation, react accordingly, show emotions thanks to the enlargement of our frontal lobes. These feelings, emotions are missing in the minds of criminals. Killing other people and seeing the fear in the eyes of the other acts as drug for them. People who are suffering with degenerative brain conditions also have the tendency to get involved in violent actions. In many criminal cases, the neuro-chemical defense is very much relevant, but this is not persuasive in the eyes of the law (Sterzer, 2010).

The large number of studies to explain criminality in the biological perspective is not something new. However, research ...