Essay Genetics and Criminality

Twin studies are a mainstay of the nature verse nurture debate because they allow researchers to conduct “natural experiments” on human beings. When researchers try to determine the relative importance of genetics and environment with regard to a certain condition, they have a hard time because they cannot generally get people with the same genes. This is where twin studies come in. Twins studies are part of the method used in behaviour genetics, which includes all data that are genetically informative. E.g. siblings, adoptees, pedigree data etc. Researchers use this method to estimate the heritability of traits and to quantify the effect of a person 's shared environment (family) and unique environment (the individual events that shape a life) on a trait.

Twin studies are a vitally important tool for dissecting the nature versus nurture argument. Twins provide a naturally occurring experiment and they are most likely the best indicator of determining whether biology effects traits and psychopathology in human beings. Researchers are seeking circumstances involving twins providing evidence of known variations in the extent of genetic similarity or environmental stability. The key factor in utilizing twin studies to determine biological basis for personality differences exist among identical twins and fraternal twins. These studies provide data among the individuals that are genetically identical but yet, display visible differences that may be attributed to environmental differences. Additionally, researchers used such studies involving

Biological Theories are vastly growing with fascinating research. The main stump is concretely linking it to criminal behavior, because some theories are more relatable than others. Theories involving temperament and hormones give real life biological explanations, while others like extrovert and introvert behaviors, and neuroticism explain a weaker link to crime. However, all theories are valuable in exploring the root of crime.

In the summary and selected experts from “Sources of Human Psychological Differences: The Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart” (Bouchard, Lykken, McGue, Segal and Tellegen) there were various research methods used in the study. The study focused on whether nature or nurture had an affect on twins behavior. To start, I believe this study was a cross-selection research where analyzation takes place at a single point in time rather than longitudinal research where research is collected over time.The reason for this is because it would be extremely difficult and time consuming to keep a close eye on over 200 children throughout their lifetime. This would also cause in affect if the study method would have been just plain observation

The sociological (nurture) theory focuses on how the upbringing of an individual can influence them to have a criminal mind-set. An example of a criminal who’s influences made them evil is Myra Hindley, the second Moors Murderer. Contributory factors of the sociological theory could be family influences, education, the socio-economic climate, the environment in which they live in and peer groups. Family influences are possibly

However, some studies have found out that nonpsychopaths and psychopaths differ with respect to how intelligence was associated with the severity of misconduct. Furthermore, the causes of misbehavior among nonpsychopathatic individuals may be different from the causes of misbehavior among psychopaths. Other studies have found that personality played an integral role in patterning of individual’s understanding as well their interactions with social, psychological, and physical environments and even though personality is a biologically determined, it is highly shaped by such factors like environment, motivation, and

Biological theories sought to determine a biological defect inside individuals that caused a predisposition towards criminal behaviour. For instance, the notion that antisocial and aggressive behaviour is influenced by genetics is strongly supported through research based on twin studies, adoption studies, twins reared apart and molecular

One of the oldest arguments in psychology is the debate between nature vs nurture. Nature being our genetics determining our behavior, personality traits, and abilities, while nurture being our environment, upbringing, and life determining our behavior. One of the most prompted debates on the subject is genetic and environmental influences on criminal behavior. The question often being whether its the blame of a human being’s inherited genes that makes them a criminal or the surroundings in which they are raised develops that outcome. Research has been done on this debate from numerous studies, and the overall conclusion being that both genes and environment play a part in the criminal behavior involving an individual. The reason being, having inherited genes for corrupted behavior doesn’t decide the operations of a person, on the other hand if they are subjected to the correct surroundings, then their chances increase for engaging in criminal or anti-social behavior.

It is very rare these days to turn on the news and not hear about a crime or a murder. Crime is a common occurrence yet many times it is difficult to understand how someone could bring themselves to do these things. It does seem to make any sense why a young handsome man from a good family would want to kill someone and then be able to go through with it. This leads one to wonder if the brains of people who behave in socially unacceptable ways are different from everyone else's brains. There is a substantial amount of evidence that suggests some criminals do have differences in their brains that most likely contribute to their behavior. Many of these individuals have Antisocial Personality Disorder and

Crime, mental health and genetics are related to the idea that genes can cause humans to act aggressively. A case for genetics and crime connects the accused to the crime based on evidence. For instance, if the perpetrator beat strangled and rape their victim then their DNA will be left at the crime scene. If found by investigators the evidence will prove the perpetrator was in contact with the victim. The police will be able to connect the perpetrator to the scene. To solve a crime a DNA match can be used for evidence. The case against genetics and crime looks at genetics and mental health or between mental health and violence. Studies in behavioral genetics indicate that some violent criminals are genetically predisposed to violent behavior.

Even though it is seen through evidence that biological factors have a great influence on criminal behaviour one can’t argue that sociocultural elements are also noticeable and play a large role in determining Criminal behavior. Environmental factors don’t state that biological factors have no part in determining criminality but rather the environmental factors fill in the missing gaps of information. Environment is considered to be an influential factor on criminal behavior, which explains why there is not a 1:1 correlation of genetic disposition and criminal behavior. One of the most important environmental factors occurs during the development through childhood. These factors of development is that of socialization or rather how the child

The thought of an individual inheriting genetic predispositions puts him at a risk of engaging in to criminal activity is not something new (Jones, Caitlin). Possibly, studies that were adopted in the seventies and eighties gave evidence that having an imprisoned paternal parent put one at a risk of getting different forms of criminal conviction at a later age when mature despite the fact one is brought up by different parents that are law abiding but have no relationship genetically (Jones, Caitlin). Other studies that proved this statement were from Scandinavia. From these studies conducted, the genetic effect that is to be experienced among criminal activities among females is higher compared to males. Inherited influences within victims in the studies differed depending on the type of crime that was committed but non-violent traits manifesting more compared to violent ones.

From this data he concluded that they share a similar thinning of hair, lack of strength, and weight, low cranial captivity, receding foreheads, highly developed frontal sinuses, … darker skin, thicker and curly hair, and large or handle-shaped ears (p.86). Law is defined by the social and legal institutions, no in biology (Morley & Hall, 2003). Therefore the attempt to determine what constitutes the act of criminal behavior can cause an variety of activities, this is the reason researches focus on a more broad context of antisocial behavior. Authors Morley and Hall (2003), who have investigated the genetic influences on criminal behavior, point out three different ways to define antisocial behavior. First is equating it with criminality and delinquency, which

Many people today wonder about whom they are and how they became that way. Is who we are in our genetic code? Is it a result of our surroundings? Behavioral geneticists attempt to answer these questions by studying the differences in humanity and weighing the effects and interplay of heredity and environment--nature versus nurture. Nature, or environment, is the effect of the surroundings. Nurture, or heredity, is the effect of the genes. Behavioral geneticists have found however that both play a key role in our lives, as twin studies have shown.

20). This illustrates that not only is persons' genetics contributing to criminal behaviour 'but' also the environment in which the they are socialised can initiate deviancy.