Neurocriminology

Objective: To determine the depression, suicidal ideation, and future concerns among domestic violence spectators. Study Design: Exploratory study design. Place and Duration of Study: Shelter Homes and Community Centres, in Rawalpindi/Islamabad Pakistan, from Aug to Nov 2022. Methodology: In-depth interviews with 30 participants aged 12 to 17 years were conducted to assess the future apprehensions and worries of domestic violence spectators. Interviews were recorded and transcribed for thematic analysis. Transcribed data were critically reviewed, and themes were identified. Inter-rater reliability was calculated with the help of Cohen Kappa and was found to be in substantial agreement. Results: The study findings identified major themes related to psychological issues and future apprehensions among participants who witnessed domestic violence. Maladaptive relationships with parents and intensification of social problems such as isolation, self-harm, social withdrawal, suicidal ideation, difficulty in making friends, and apprehensions about the future relationship with a partner were also perceived as serious future concerns among domestic violence spectators. Conclusion: Domestic violence takes a toll on the mental and physical well-being of not only its victims but also its spectators. Early detection and prevention of violent exposure are essential to mitigate its long-term psychological impact. Keywords: Domestic violence, Depression, Suicidal ideation, Wellbeing.

Ce travail de thèse propose une analyse épistémologique des études publiées dans le domaine de la neurocriminologie, vaste programme de recherche mené dans l’objectif de redéfinir le problème de la criminalité en termes neurobiologiques, et qui vise à isoler les spécificités cérébrales des individus représentant une menace pour la société. L’objectif principal est d’évaluer la légitimité scientifique des ambitions annoncées par les neurocriminologues, c’est-à-dire de déterminer si leurs résultats garantissent une explication pertinente pour apprécier la dangerosité d’un individu. Il s’agit à la fois de s’interroger sur la possibilité empirique d’une explication neurobiologique du comportement criminel, et de déterminer si l’on peut donner un sens à l’ambition de fonder l’évaluation du risque de récidive sur des critères neurobiologiques.Le premier niveau d’analyse propose une reconstruction historique de la neurocriminologie, depuis les premières études électroencéphalographiques (E...

The purpose of this study was to explore the commonalities between school shooters to gain a better understanding of ways to prevent school shootings. The research question was, Understanding the behavioral impact of a maldeveloped or damaged prefrontal cortex, striatum, and amygdala as contributors of psychopathy, to what extent is the relationship between neurodevelopmental disorders, environmental stressors, and trauma in the proposed triadic reciprocality model evidence of conditions that contribute to youth becoming school shooters? The study’s multidisciplinary approach in researching areas of neuroscience, psychology, and criminal justice was to explore psychological attributes of neurodevelopmental disorders, the impacts of trauma, and environmental changes that could induce adolescent psychopathy leading to violent tendencies. This study was a comparison of school shootings and shooters in K–12 schools committed between 2000 and 2020 by students 18 or younger, with a search for general themes for analysis to add to the literature on school shooters. This study utilized a qualitative approach of grounded theory, and presented the results of the analysis, with specific regard to emerging themes. The results showed that four components—trauma, environment, neurodevelopmental disorders, and firearms accessibility—were the primary contributors to the majority of shooting events.

One of the greatest achievements of the Enlightenment in the field of criminal justice was the idea of nulla poena sine culpa. However, the concept of guilt has evolved and its meaning (or its loss) has recently been debated: while some authors defend the scientific autonomy of criminal law in of the judgment elaboration of censorship of the conduct by free agent and which, in technical terms (and not on moral principles), is devious because it offends a legal good; others argue for the loss of scientific autonomy in the criminal law in favor of other areas — notably neurosciences — which have shown that the agent might not be able to act differently from the behaviour that  gave  rise  to  it,  based  on  his  neurobiological  tendencies,  that  activate  certain behavioral patterns. So, it is clear the fear of many authors, especially in Criminal Law, that the Law, in the broad sense, begins to incorporate neuroscientific knowledge to the letter. This is due to the lack of scientific univocity in this matter. So, while it is true that most neuroscientists defend biological neurodeterminism, it is also true that there are philosophers advocating indeterminism, and a majority — both philosophers and psychologists and psychiatrists — advocating an idea of  compatibilism on the basis of basic principles of behavioral psychology and the discovery of the concept of neuroplasticity. On the basis of the above — and in spite of the fact that the neuroscientific debate is enriching criminal law and the philosophy of law — for the sake of legal certainty, it is urgent to defend the principle of legality and the scientific auto-nomy of criminal law. in the face of uncertainty of neuroscientific developments.

Keywords: criminal guilt — neuroscience — neurocriminology — scien-tific autonomy of Criminal Law — compatibilism

La Criminología y el Derecho penal se enfrentan a una nueva frontera cuyos límites difusos se van abordando con cautela. Las características de la delincuencia sexual, especialmente la que afecta a víctimas menores de edad, ofrecen oportunidades a las neurociencias para plantear cuáles son los probables orígenes de ese tipo de delincuencia y su posible tratamiento: psicológico, médico y jurídico penal. Sin embargo, asemeja que los nuevos avances suscitan más preguntas que respuestas, desde la óptica del Derecho procesal penal, del Derecho penal, la Criminología y la Ética.

La evaluación e interpretación que realizan los seres humanos de estímulos reales o imaginados, constituye uno de los factores predictores que determinará el repertorio conductual, ya sea adaptativo o desadaptativo, con alcance jurídico a ejecutar en la relación de pareja. Por lo anterior, el estudio evaluó el desempeño en tareas de cognición social en un grupo de hombres que poseen antecedentes por violencia de pareja. A los participantes se les aplicó pruebas de reconocimiento emocional y empatía. Los resultados indicaron que el grupo de hombres maltratadores presenta dificultades en su cognición social, debido posiblemente a un sesgo intencional en el reconocimiento de las conductas de su congénere, por lo cual, atribuyen una intencionalidad negativa al comportamiento del otro. Estos resultados permiten aportar una base empírica desde la psicología jurídica en la comprensión bimodal de la violencia de pareja, y de esta forma centrar la intervención en las necesidades del individuo.

Se analizó, en primer término, la relación entre subjetividad y libertad, subjetividad y responsabilidad, y subjetividad e identidad. En segundo lugar, se esbozaron las bases de la correspondiente traslación de estos tres binomios conceptuales al Derecho penal. Por último, se formularon unas conclusiones junto con las perspectivas de futuro en coherencia con el enfoque del autor.

El sugerente libro que tengo el honor de prologar nace de la pluma de una investigadora muy cualificada, la Dra. Marta Mª Aguilar Cárceles, a quien tuve oportunidad de conocer con motivo de una estancia en el Instituto de Criminología de la Universidad de Cambridge en el año 2012. Dado que su campo de especialización calza a la perfección con el espectro de temas que hemos abordado en el proyecto “Derecho penal y comportamiento humano” (RTI2018-097838-B-100, financiado por MCIN/ AEI /10.13039/501100011033/ y por FEDER), ella aceptó amablemente integrarse en el equipo de investigación, de modo que la presente monografía, que a buen seguro no pasará inadvertida en la literatura especializada, aparece como uno de sus resultados. Como el lector podrá comprobar, la materia queda sistematizada en cuatro capítulos, dotando a la obra de una estructura sencilla al objeto de ir desde lo más general («Culpabilidad y transversalidad en la práctica jurídico-penal»), hasta lo más específico («Adicciones sin sustancia y control de los impulsos»), para, a partir de ahí, entrar en aspectos de enorme relevancia en el contexto actual marcado, como es sabido, por los avances en la investigación sobre el cerebro («Modus Operandi cerebral: Aportaciones desde la Neurociencia» y «Nuevas adicciones comportamentales e implicaciones para el Derecho penal»).

(*) Esta ponencia se incardina en un seminario al que se adhiere el Proyecto de Investigación- Programa I+D+i orientada a los retos de la sociedad «Derecho penal y comportamiento humano» (RTI2018-097838-B-I00) concedido por el Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades de España [IP: Prof. Dr. Eduardo Demetrio Crespo] [https://blog.uclm.es/proyectodpch/].

(*) Esta intervención se incardina en el Proyecto de Investigación- Programa I+D+i orientada a los retos de la sociedad «Derecho penal y comportamiento humano» (RTI2018-097838-B-I00) concedido por el Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades de España [IP: Prof. Dr. Eduardo Demetrio Crespo] [https://blog.uclm.es/proyectodpch/].

(*) Esta conferencia se incardina en el Proyecto de Investigación- Programa I+D+i orientada a los retos de la sociedad «Derecho penal y comportamiento humano» (RTI2018-097838-B-I00) concedido por el Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades de España [IP: Prof. Dr. Eduardo Demetrio Crespo] [https://blog.uclm.es/proyectodpch/].

Links/URL: https://eventos.udesa.edu.ar/70390/tickets/seminario-de-teoria-penal_-dimensiones-de-la-relacion-entre-neurociencias-y-derecho-penal.html

1. Derechos Humanos: rasgos y evolución; 2.  Libre albredrío, libertad y dignidad; 3. Neuroderechos Humanos: libertad cognitiva, privacidad mental, integridad mental, continuidad psicológica; 4. Carácter absoluto o relativo: implicaciones penales.

(*) Este seminario se incardina en el Proyecto de Investigación- Programa I+D+i orientada a los retos de la sociedad «Derecho penal y comportamiento humano» (RTI2018-097838-B-I00) concedido por el Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades de España [IP: Prof. Dr. Eduardo Demetrio Crespo] [https://blog.uclm.es/proyectodpch/].

Neuroscience has identified brain structures and functions that correlate with psychopathic tendencies. Since psychopathic traits can be traced back to physical neural attributes, it has been argued that psychopaths are not truly responsible for their actions and therefore should not be blamed for their psychopathic behaviors. This experimental research aims to evaluate what effect communicating this theory of psychopathy has on the moral behavior of lay people. If psychopathy is blamed on the brain, people may feel less morally responsible for their own psychopathic tendencies and therefore may be more likely to display those tendencies. An online study will provide participants with false feedback about their psychopathic traits supposedly based on their digital footprint (i.e., Facebook likes), thus classifying them as having either above-average or below-average psychopathic traits and describing psychopathy in cognitive or neurobiological terms. This particular study will asses...

(*) Esta conferencia se incardina en el Proyecto de Investigación- Programa I+D+i orientada a los retos de la sociedad «Derecho penal y comportamiento humano» (RTI2018-097838-B-I00) concedido por el Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades de España [IP: Prof. Dr. Eduardo Demetrio Crespo] [https://blog.uclm.es/proyectodpch/].

Neuroscience has identified brain structures and functions that correlate with psychopathic tendencies. Since psychopathic traits can be traced back to physical neural attributes, it has been argued that psychopaths are not truly responsible for their actions and therefore should not be blamed for their psychopathic behaviors. This experimental research aims to evaluate what effect communicating this theory of psychopathy has on the moral behavior of lay people. If psychopathy is blamed on the brain, people may feel less morally responsible for their own psychopathic tendencies and therefore may be more likely to display those tendencies. An online study will provide participants with false feedback about their psychopathic traits supposedly based on their digital footprint (i.e., Facebook likes), thus classifying them as having either above-average or below-average psychopathic traits and describing psychopathy in cognitive or neurobiological terms. This particular study will asses...

(*) Esta conferencia se incardina en el Proyecto de Investigación- Programa I+D+i orientada a los retos de la sociedad «Derecho penal y comportamiento humano» (RTI2018-097838-B-I00) concedido por el Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades de España [IP: Prof. Dr. Eduardo Demetrio Crespo] [https://blog.uclm.es/proyectodpch/].

Esta conferencia se incardina en el Proyecto de Investigación- Programa I+D+i orientada a los retos de la sociedad «Derecho penal y comportamiento humano» (RTI2018-097838-B-I00) concedido por el Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades de España [IP: Prof. Dr. Eduardo Demetrio Crespo] [https://blog.uclm.es/proyectodpch/].

Este seminario se incardina en el Proyecto de Investigación- Programa I+D+i orientada a los retos de la sociedad «Derecho penal y comportamiento humano» (RTI2018-097838-B-I00) concedido por el Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades de España [IP: Prof. Dr. Eduardo Demetrio Crespo] [https://blog.uclm.es/proyectodpch/].

Este seminario se incardina en el Proyecto de Investigación- Programa I+D+i orientada a los retos de la sociedad «Derecho penal y comportamiento humano» (RTI2018-097838-B-I00) concedido por el Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades de España [IP: Prof. Dr. Eduardo Demetrio Crespo] [https://blog.uclm.es/proyectodpch/].

Evaluating dangerousness in the age of neuroscience: how to measure risk without stigmatizing the individual? (translated from French)

L'évaluation de la dangerosité à l'ère des neurosciences. Comment mesurer le risque sans stigmatiser l'homme ?

The central question of this dissertation is the following: "What are the ethical dead ends and the societal drifts of the application of neuroscience in the field of social sciences in the age of risk, in particular, the evaluation dangerousness? ".

The objective of this dissertation is to shed original light on the theoretical and ethical issues of the articulation of neuroscience and social sciences, by focusing on the criminal justice system. Further, to identify avenues for reflection in order to better understand the context in which these issues arise.
From a methodological point of view, this dissertation consists of a literature review. On the one hand, it presents the correlation between neurobiological factors and antisocial and violent behaviour. On the other hand, it introduces how neurobiological factors explain the appearance of antisocial behaviour and the impact that this knowledge has caused on the assessment of an individual's dangerousness.
These findings have led us to question the place of neuroscience in the assessment of dangerousness or rather in predicting the risk that an individual may represent for society in a context where risk management faces a public opinion always demanding more security and proactivity in fighting crime.

Freedom of will is an important concept that extends its historical background far behind and the scientific world continues to debate, forming the common issue of many disciplines.Whether people have free will has not only been the subject of philosophy, religion, science, but also the science of law has attempted to explain this concept. So much so that in the development of criminal law, the meaning of freedom of will has been decisive, and the basis of criminal responsibility is based on free will. The fundamental separation of Classical and Positivist Teachings, which guides the science of criminal law, has also formed the concept of free will. Criminology science, which emerged as a result of the ideas adopted by the Positivist School, focused on the causes of guilt and investigated the causes of the crime. Lombroso and Garofalo, representatives of the Positivist teaching, who rejected free will and accepted that crime was a product of internal and external factors, tried to explain guilt on the basis of the criminal's temperament, physical and psychic structure by using the method of experimentation and observation. By the 21st century, the causes of guilt continue to be investigated and the problem of free will remains current as a matter of scientific debate. In particular, the advances in neuroscience in recent years and the ability to elaborate analysis of the human brain through artificial intelligence systems have given a new dimension to criminological approaches to the causes of crime. Thanks to the techniques that the human brain can be displayed and brain activities can be monitored, these artificial intelligence-assisted systems can be fed by millions of medical images, clinical findings and numerous data, producing a variety of results related to the functioning of the brain. Today, neurocriminology science, which examines the relationship between crime and the brain, with the data generated by these artificial intelligence-assisted systems aim to provide scientific answers to questions such as whether a person can be congenitally prone to crime, which part of the brain can be associated with crime, whether a person has free will. Neurocriminological research in this field will undoubtedly provide a new opening to the issue of freedom of will.

This article claims that neither indeterminism nor the so-called neuro-determinism provides an adequate response to the problem of criminal responsibility, highlighting the non-apprehensibility of the problem of freedom and the non-dehumanized image of man. At the same time this contribution proposes a solution from the point of view of humanist compatibilism based on some key assumptions and methodological anchors, such us the rejection of retributivism and the search for unified scientific responses.

The main corpus of the present volume is offers case studies of institutions established or flourishing in the second half of the XIXth century, in the heydays of anthropology and ethnography, or within the context of a seemingly radical critique of their funding presuppositions, as it is the case with the relatively recent ethnographic museum of Suita, Osaka (1974). In spite of the variety and global coverage of the institutions selected (two in Italy, one in Argentina, one in Mexico and one in Japan), some common trends emerge: the far from linear history of the institutions concerned; the relation to the history of the countries where these institutions thrived more or less successfully; the question of the attitudes of living representatives of the ethnic groups on display; the thorny issue of the reclamation of human remains; and the questioning of the very existence of such institutions, as it is the case with the attempts to close down the Lombroso Museum in Turin. My comments will not necessarily follow the order of pagination of the various contribution, and will vary in length, for lack of competence on many of the issues covered in this volume, especially the ones concerning the Latin American and Japanese Museums.

This research focuses on the history development of forensic science and also shed light on the fusion of science and law that is how forensic science has brought in the administration of justice. This research aims to point out the flaws in the laws with reference to forensic evidence.

Since the beginning of the twenty-first century we have seen an increase in the study of neurosciences, developing relations between that branch of the exact sciences and the study of the individual determinations toward crime: a return, under a new bias, to etiological explanatory theories centered in the individual. In this article we have the intention of pointing out the dangers of an unlimited acceptance of the new neurocriminological studies by the criminal sciences, namely the possibility of creating
a new label of “born dangerous” even before the subject practices or even consider the practice of a crime previously foreseen by an incriminating norm. We intend to explain the weaknesses of the most radical neurodeterminism, as well as to demonstrate that this thought – with the prevention of danger anchored in ideas of social defense – leads to the neutralization of preferential targets and generates inequality in criminal justice, based on abstract ideas (and not necessarily verifiable in concrete), with a backdrop of mere behavioral prognosis judgments and failure diagnostic techniques that are ineffective in their purpose: they do not prevent recidivism.