Discussion Chapter on "Criminal Behavior"

Discussion Chapter 4 pages (1294 words) Sources: 4

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Criminal Justice Issues in School Security

An examination in the research and history of criminology and genetics reveals that there is a quite obvious correlation between heritability and criminal behavior. However, it is important to realize that this fact does not completely mitigate the effect of environmental factors (Buss, 2012, p. 90) on tendencies towards crime as well. It is virtually impossible to completely isolate these respective factors (genetics and environmental) from one another. Oftentimes, they simply reinforce one another and operate in a confluence to determine the criminal or non-criminal proclivities of a person (Woods, no date). Regardless of the role that environmental factors play in developing criminal tendencies, it is quite clear that eugenics is certainly responsible as well.

According to Caitlin M. Jones, "Research has been conducted which has resulted in a conclusion that both genes and environment do play a role in the criminality of an individual" and "that it is…an interaction between genes and the environment that predicts criminal behavior" (Jones, 2005). Nonetheless, it is interesting to note the way these influences affect different types of criminals when stratified by age. Older criminals (such as adults) have more control over their environment, and appear to be principally affected by eugenics in their criminal dispositions. Children, however, have less control over their environment and seem to be influenced more by it than genetic factors (Jones, 2005).

Still, the principle forms of evidence that are useful in demonstrating the fact that there is a definite genetic component of crime inherently lead to genetic factors as well. These forms of evidence include analysis of studies relating to families, twins, and to adopted individuals. A 1993 study of a family in the Netherlands revealed that there was a genetic mutation accounting for lowered rates of monoamine oxidase in the males; this condition has been linked to criminal behavior (Jones, 2005). As convincing as this evidence is, it is impossible to disassociate genetic factors relating to families that pertain to environment, such as the influence of one's peer group, economic and social factors, and childhood neglect. Nonetheless, the fact that this particular Dutch family had a genetic mutation that was responsible for low levels of monoamine oxidase suitably proves the relevance of genetics in criminal activity.

The most convincing evidence for this fact is found in studies of twins, and relates to the different types of twins. In most studies, the rate of concordance of identical twins (who have shared the same zygote) is compared with that of fraternal twins (who had different zygotes), wherein higher rates of the former are used to confirm a genetic component towards criminality. One particular study analyzed thirty two identical twins who had been adopted by someone they were not related to, and showed "a high degree of heritability involved" (Jones, 2005).

This example is important because it introduces the incidence of adoption as supporting evidence for the heritability of crime. Analyzing the criminal tendencies of people that have been adopted is a crucial determinant in analyzing the genetic component of criminal activity since it is able to distinguish genetics from environment. Researchers can analyze the criminal tendencies of a parent and that of his or her progeny in a separate environment -- in which environmental factors are effectively ruled out as a determinant for criminal tendencies, since individuals approved for adoption must provide stable environments in conducive settings to positivity and childhood stability. A 2000 study in Iowa determined that despite a new environment, individuals born to women with criminal records "had a higher rate of criminal convictions as adults" (Jones, 2005) than a control group, proving the heritability of criminal behavior.

References

Buss, D.M. (2012). "The evolutionary psychology of crime." Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Criminology. 1 (1): 90-98.

Jones, C. (2005). Genetic and environmental influences on criminal behavior. Rochester Institute of Technology: Rochester, New York. Retrieved from http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/jones.html… READ MORE

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