IB Psychology – Criminology Flashcards

Front

What is the role of the prefrontal cortex in behaviour?

Back

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is responsible for inhibiting impulsive behaviours, enabling self-control and regulation of decision-making.

Front

What function does the amygdala serve in the brain?

Back

The amygdala is involved in processing emotions, particularly fear and threat detection, and initiates the stress response.

Front

Which war veterans were studied in Grafman et al. (1996)?

Back

Vietnam War veterans were studied to investigate the relationship between prefrontal cortex damage and aggressive behaviour.

Front

What specific brain area is linked to long-term decision making?

Back

The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) supports system 2 processing, allowing rational decisions based on long-term outcomes.

Front

What are the three core cognitive processes in decision making?

Back

Processing, judgement, and decision making—used to interpret stimuli, evaluate options, and choose a behavioural response.

Front

What defines System 2 processing in the Dual Process Model?

Back

System 2 is slow, deliberate, and effortful, used in rational thinking and evaluation of consequences.

Front

Which brain structure activates the stress response after detecting a threat?

Back

The hypothalamus, signalled by the amygdala, initiates the HPA axis, triggering hormone release.

Front

Which two behaviours are linked to testosterone in humans and animals?

Back

Aggression and social dominance, particularly in response to social threat.

Front

Why was the participant SM unable to experience fear?

Back

SM had a genetic condition (Urbach-Wiethe disease) that caused bilateral amygdala lesions, preventing normal fear responses.

Front

How many experimental conditions were used in Albert et al.’s testosterone study on rats?

Back

Four conditions, varying testosterone presence to assess its causal effect on aggressive behaviour.