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Haylie Hammonds

Dr. Cassel

21.SP.ENG.1201.501 English Composition II

2 May 2021

Literature Review

Berger, Kathleen Stassen. Invitation to the Life Span. Worth Publishers, 2019.

Dr. Stassen Berger has a Ph.D. in psychology and writes developmental psychology

textbooks for college students across the U.S. One could claim that she writes to inform or to sell

books. This textbook clearly explains what happens developmentally, psychologically,

physiologically, and socially from the time of conception to death. There are not any key points,

as the lifespan is all relevant to development; however, I believe the key points relevant to my

answer will include chapters on adolescence and the mind and body during this time. This source

includes possible answers to my research question concerning morality, brain-development, and

types of offenders.

Krahé, Barbara, et al. “Desensitization to Media Violence: Links with Habitual Media Violence

Exposure, Aggressive Cognitions, and Aggressive Behavior.” Journal of Personality &

Social Psychology, vol. 100, no. 4, Apr. 2011, pp. 630–646. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1037/a0021711.

Dr. Krahé has a doctorate in sociology and a diploma and in psychology. Since April of

2021, Dr. Dr. Krahé has been the Emerita Professor of Social Psychology for the University of

Potsdam, Germany. She has several academic journals regarding violence, videogames, and its
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impact on children. I believe the purpose for the academic journals are to inform and spread

aware about the desensitizing effects of violence in media. I believe the key point in this source

is identify what actions people can become emotional numb to. The significance of this source is

that this emotional numbness is particular to observing violence.

The Intellectual Property Corporation (Director). (2019). Kids Behind Bars: Life or Parole

[Video file]. United States: A&E Network. Retrieved March 06, 2021, from

https://www.aetv.com/shows/kids-behind-bars.

The A&E Network, founded in 1984, is an American pay television channel. When the

A&E Network was founded, their early focuses were documentaries, arts, and dramas; however,

their focuses now expand to wrestling, reality shows, and romance movies, as well as various

other areas. This docuseries about juvenile inmates could have multiple marks against it as it was

made and produced for television and made for the purpose of profit. I think it could also be

given some merit because the series relies partly on court proceedings, interviews with the law

enforcement and lawyers involved, and interviews with the surviving family members of the

victims/offender. I believe the key point of this source is that these proceedings are because of

Miller v. Alabama, and the lawyers of the defendants were using many of the same arguments

that the Supreme court justices used to sway them in their judgements.

Tyler, Jaclyn. “Personal Interview.” 18 Mar. 2021.

Professor Jaclyn Tyler works in the Psychology department for Sinclair Community

College, has a degree in psychology and teaches general psychology, developmental psychology,

abnormal psychology, personality psychology, and psychology of gender. The key points of this
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interview were that each case needs to be evaluated individually, the crime, the severity, the

individual and their past, and the likelihood that they’ll repeat again. I think the purpose of this

interview was to inform me on the questions I posed, and to explain that there is not a single

answer to my research question.

Umbach, R., C.M. Berryessa, and A. Raine. "Brain imaging research on psychopathy:

Implications for punishment, prediction, and treatment in youth and adults." Journal of

Criminal Justice, vol. 43, no. 4, 2015, pp. 295-306. OhioLINK Electronic Journal Center,

doi:10.1016/J.JCRIMJUS.2015.04.003.

Dr. Rebecca Umbach has a Ph.D. in philosophy and is currently working on a doctorate

in criminology with the University of Pennsylvania. According to Umbach, psychopathic

adolescents and adults in the majority of research to date has shown less “function, volume, and

connectivity” to the frontal lobe and amygdala, (Umbach 298). These areas of the brain are

responsible for “prosocial behaviors and moral decision making,” (Umbach 298). I believe the

reason Umbach published her research was to inform and educate.

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Works Cited

Berger, Kathleen Stassen. Invitation to the Life Span. Worth Publishers, 2019.

Krahé, Barbara, et al. “Desensitization to Media Violence: Links with Habitual Media Violence

Exposure, Aggressive Cognitions, and Aggressive Behavior.” Journal of Personality &

Social Psychology, vol. 100, no. 4, Apr. 2011, pp. 630–646. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1037/a0021711.

The Intellectual Property Corporation (Director). (2019). Kids Behind Bars: Life or Parole

[Video file]. United States: A&E Network. Retrieved March 06, 2021, from

https://www.aetv.com/shows/kids-behind-bars.

Tyler, Jaclyn. “Personal Interview.” 18 Mar. 2021.

Umbach, R., C.M. Berryessa, and A. Raine. "Brain imaging research on psychopathy:

Implications for punishment, prediction, and treatment in youth and adults." Journal of

Criminal Justice, vol. 43, no. 4, 2015, pp. 295-306. OhioLINK Electronic Journal Center,

doi:10.1016/J.JCRIMJUS.2015.04.003.