Scenario: A 13-year-old boy has been arrested for murder. The prosecution wants to charge the boy as an adult, putting the death penalty on the table. They have asked you to weigh in on the decision.
Answer the following questions using information you have learned about neuroscience and learning theory. Answer each question as thoroughly as possible. Your answers should not be based on feelings or beliefs. You must answer each question in a scholarly, evidence-based way that shows your understanding of both neuroscience and learning theory.
Question 1: What information from neuroscience and learning theory would be applicable here? How is it applicable? (20 Points)
Question 2: What questions would you ask the boy, his family, and other professionals in the boy’s life before deciding whether or not the boy should be charged as an adult? Why would you ask these questions? What insight do you hope to gain? (10 points)
Question 3: What would your recommendation be to the court? Why do you feel this is the correct recommendation based on your neuroscience and learning theory knowledge? (10 Points)
Full Answer Section
How is neuroscience and learning theory applicable to the case of a 13-year-old boy arrested for murder?
Neuroscience and learning theory can help us to understand why adolescents are more likely to engage in criminal behavior, and what can be done to rehabilitate them.
In the case of the 13-year-old boy arrested for murder, neuroscience can help us to understand that his brain is still developing and that he may not have the same capacity for judgment and impulse control as an adult. Learning theory can help us to understand that the boy may have learned violent and aggressive behaviors from the people in his life.
Question 2:
Questions I would ask the boy:
- What were you thinking and feeling when you committed the murder?
- What do you think led you to commit the murder?
- Have you ever been exposed to violence or aggression in your life?
- What kind of support system do you have in place?
- What are your goals for the future?
Questions I would ask the boy's family:
- What is the boy's home life like?
- How does the boy interact with his family and peers?
- Has the boy ever experienced any mental health problems?
- What kind of discipline do you use with the boy?
- What are your hopes for the boy's future?
Questions I would ask other professionals in the boy's life:
- What is the boy's academic performance like?
- How does the boy behave in school?
- Does the boy have any friends or close relationships?
- Has the boy ever been involved in any other criminal activity?
- What kind of support services are available to the boy?
Why would I ask these questions?
I would ask these questions to gain a better understanding of the boy's background, his motivations for committing the crime, and his rehabilitation potential. This information would help me to make a recommendation to the court about whether or not the boy should be charged as an adult.
What insight do I hope to gain?
I hope to gain insight into the following:
- The boy's mental and emotional state at the time of the crime
- The boy's history of violence and aggression
- The boy's support system and the resources available to him
- The boy's rehabilitation potential
Question 3:
My recommendation to the court would be to not charge the 13-year-old boy as an adult.
This recommendation is based on my understanding of neuroscience and learning theory. Neuroscience tells us that the adolescent brain is still developing and that adolescents are more likely to engage in risk-taking behavior and aggression. Learning theory tells us that adolescents learn by observing and imitating the people in their lives.
Based on this information, I believe that the boy is more likely to be rehabilitated if he is charged as a juvenile and has access to juvenile justice programs. Juvenile justice programs are designed to help adolescents learn from their mistakes and develop into productive members of society.
In contrast, the adult criminal justice system is not designed to rehabilitate offenders. Adult offenders are often sentenced to long prison terms, where they are exposed to violence and other negative influences. This can make it difficult for them to successfully reintegrate into society after they are released from prison.
I believe that the boy deserves a chance to be rehabilitated and to become a productive member of society. By charging him as a juvenile and providing him with access to juvenile justice programs, we can increase the chances that he will be successful.
Sample Answer
Question 1:
Neuroscience:
Brain development: The human brain is not fully developed until the early to mid-20s. This means that adolescents are still developing the cognitive and emotional skills necessary to make sound decisions and control their impulses.
Risk-taking behavior: Adolescents are more likely to engage in risk-taking behavior than adults. This is due to a number of factors, including the development of the prefrontal cortex (responsible for decision-making and impulse control) and the increased production of testosterone (which can lead to aggressive behavior).
Rehabilitation potential: Adolescents have a greater capacity for rehabilitation than adults. This is because their brains are still developing and they are more open to change.
Learning theory:
Social learning theory: Adolescents learn by observing and imitating the people in their lives. This includes their parents, peers, and other adults. If an adolescent is exposed to violence and aggression, they are more likely to learn and engage in those behaviors themselves.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is a type of therapy that can be used to help adolescents learn new ways of thinking and behaving. CBT can be effective in reducing risk-taking behavior and aggression in adolescents.