Letitia is a judge who occasionally hears cases involving violent crime. If a person in her courtroom is convicted, she must help decide on the proper sentence, based on both the crime itself and the criminal's past history. How could Letitia use her understanding of aggression research to figure out whether people convicted in her courtroom might have been victims of earlier aggression themselves?

Question

A. Have them undergo scans of ongoing brain activity. Criminals who were victims of abuse show more activity in parts of the brain that reflect self-control and emotion compared to criminals who were non-victims.
B. Survey their attitudes towards aggression. Criminals who were victims of abuse are more likely to justify their aggression in terms of protecting themselves, while criminals who were non-victims tend not to justify their acts at all.
C. Measure their current levels of stress hormones. Criminals who were victims of abuse are more likely to have chronically elevated levels of such hormones compared to criminals who were non-victims.
D. Examine the nature of their crime. Criminals who were victims of abuse are more likely to commit defensive aggression, while criminals who were non-victims tend to commit instrumental aggression.

Answer 1

Answer: A