On the violent brain and the alienation of subjectivity

International Conference on Forensic Research & Technology

October 15-17, 2012 DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago-Northshore, USA

Marilia Etienne Arreguy

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Forensic Res

Abstract :

This article presents an interpretation of the neuroscience?s theories that relate neurophysiologic functions and brain damages to the violent behavior in order to present some ethical points about the use of these hypotheses in some fields of work such as criminal justice, education an public health. Even some neuroscientists admit that there isn't enough evidence that criminal behavior could be linked to discrete brain functions, questioning the controversial use of neuroimages as proof of irresponsibility in criminal judgments. There is a present tendency to map the violent brains of children and teenagers in order to intervene as early as possible to prevent violence. Such a perspective seems to pose a false problem. Maybe this is not a naïve option, because there are many investments and capitalistic interests behind such approach. That's why this article analyzes with caution the large amount of investments in brain scan polices. In addition, the studies of violent emotions in a specific locus of the brain recalls the core of historical mistakes made in the XIX century by Phrenology and Criminal Anthropology that saw the sign of crime in the physiognomy of some social and ethnic types. It is equally important to warn about the risk of reducing the multiplicity of human emotions and violent reactions to neural causes, supposedly determining criminal potential. Or, there is no crime without a context, and the weight given to social issues should be much clarified. Supported by psychoanalytical and educational premises, this work criticizes the reductionism of a certain criminal neuroscience, and focuses on the irreducibility of linguistic, social and historical contributions as the main factors in the formation and transformation of subjectivity and its misfortune in crime.

Biography :

Marilia Etienne Arreguy has completed her Ph.D in two different areas: in Public Health from University of the State of Rio de Janeiro and in Research in Psychopathology and Psychoanalysis from Paris Diderot University, at the age of 34 years (2008). She is researcher and professor of Psychology and Psychoanalysis in the Faculty of Education in the Fluminense Federal University in Niteroi - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil. She has published the book ?Crimes dans le triangle amoureux...? (In French and in Portuguese) and also several book chapters and papers in reputed journals. She is serving as an editorial board member of repute in many scientific journals.