Neurocriminological Approaches: Continuing Innovative Paradigms from the West Coast

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

Ongoing research in neurocriminology continues to demonstrate how exciting and novel neuroscience techniques may be applied to the understanding of the biological, psychological, and psychosocial underpinnings of various forms of criminal behavior. Significant challenges remain, however, related to the study of the extreme ends of behavioral (crime) and psychological (mental illness) spectrums in the community as opposed to incarcerated settings, and novel empirical approaches are in demand. Furthermore, it is becoming more and more incumbent upon neurocriminologists to begin “humanizing” their data collection procedures, moving beyond merely “peeking under the hood” of their research participants, and offering whenever possible meaningful, positive, judgment-free experiences which advance both the science of criminology and enhance the lives of the individuals themselves. This panel will present four West Coast investigations applying innovative data collection methodologies to the study of brain-and-environment-based criminal behavior. Homeless individuals from a large-city rescue mission (with and without histories of street gang involvement), university undergraduate students, and two incarcerated multiple killers are the focus of these studies; and findings are considered within a biopsychosocial framework for understanding criminal behavior.

Sub Unit

• Area III. Perspectives on Crime / 1. Biological, Bio-social, and Psychological Perspectives

Division of Special Interest

• Division Session of Interest / Division of Biopsychosocial Criminology

Individual Presentations

• EEG Correlates to Aggressive Responses during the Rorschach Inkblot Test - Everett Delfel, California State University, Long Beach; Kenya Alfaro, California State University, Long Beach; Jeremy Feiger, California State University, Long Beach; Adriana Hernandez, California State University, Long Beach; Robert Schug, California State University, Long Beach

• Neurocriminology and Community Violence: Biopsychosocial Characteristics of Male Street Gang Members - Khadija Monk, Bridgewater State University; Kenya Alfaro, California State University, Long Beach; Jeremy Feiger, California State University, Long Beach; Robert Schug, California State University, Long Beach

• The Biopsychosocial Developmental Timeline Approach to the Study of Serial Homicide: A Comparative Study of Two Incarcerated Multiple Killers - Robert Schug, California State University, Long Beach; Ayaka Tabata, California State University, Long Beach; Amanda Lucas, California State University, Long Beach

Chair

• Robert Schug, California State University, Long Beach