Criminology: A Sociopath Study

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The study of criminology is a fascinating field of study and one that is continuing to evolve. The last few decades have witnessed major advances in scientific knowledge, legendary scholarly debates and pivotal contributions to research, policy and practice (Welsh & Farrington, 2010, p. 77). One research topic that continues to intrigue criminologists is the study of sociopaths and their behavioral misgivings. In order to comprehend the meaning of the term sociopath a definition should be established. A sociopath is generally defined as an individual who is capable of committing offenses that have no remorse or empathy for the victims whom they have committed the criminal act against. If criminologists can determine, or at a minimum cognize…show more content…
Their theories will help form society’s reaction to an offense in terms of averting behaviors and reacting to it after an occurrence. Hall stated (as cited in Spiegel, 2007,). Criminologists devote their life to assessing, comprehending, restraining, and helping lawmakers to prevent criminal and deviant acts. Not all criminal acts are deviant, and likewise all deviant acts are not criminal. The theories behind criminals and their behaviors, emotions, and acts against society are in the early stages of becoming proven actualities. The latest advancements in neuroscience research is beginning to uncover evidence that demonstrates brains of certain kinds of criminals are different from other individuals who do not have tendencies to commit crimes or violent acts against people or society. Due to limited resources and firsthand knowledge about sociopaths and what drives them has become an important factor in uncovering the mysteries of the brain. For the typical person their belief is that sociopaths are bad people and they should realize causing malicious harm to others is immoral. The problem is that they have very little true feeling at all for others, which allows them to treat others as objects (Moskowitz, 2011). One study discovered certain differences in the brain which may lead to some answers that have puzzled researchers for years. Researchers have taken the brain scans of antisocial people, compared with a control group of individuals without any mental disorders, showed on average an 18-percent reduction in the volume of the brain's middle frontal gyrus, and a 9 percent reduction in the volume of the orbital frontal gyrus – two sections in the brain's frontal lobe (Moskowitz, 2011). Another brain study completed in 2009 again compared individuals with certain disorders and those without. Researchers
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