🔪

Raine et al. 1997

“raine et al. (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers indicated by positron emission tomography”
— Specification code 3.3.1

Aims

  • To see whether there was difference in brain functioning of murderers who pleaded NGRI (not guilty by the reason of insanity), compared to non-violent people.

Procudure

  • The sample contains 41 murderers (39 males and 2 females) who pleaded NGRI (not guilty for the reason of insanity), and 41 control participants.
  • Experimental design: matched pairs design.
    • No medication
    • Same sex with the match
    • Similar age with the match
    • 6 participants with schizophrenia were paired with murderers with schizophrenia
    page icon
    Do not claim that
    • PET scanning could identify murderers in advance.
    • PET scans could decide whether someone is guilty or not.
    Raine is not claiming these!
    Having something different in brain functioning DOES NOT directly cause violent behavior.
    page icon
    Why might the murders be pleading NGRI?
    Probably because if they indeed insane, they will be sent to a psychiatric hospital instead of prison!