Genetic Factors and Criminal Behavior Essay - 709 Words

In this article the two authors research the connection between genetic factors and criminal behavior. They look at the causes that make someone act in a criminal way. There are several factors looked at in connection to the cause such as social factors and environmental variables. The social factors being the more examined of the two. They hypothesized that other factors in performance or alone with environmental variables would lead to better understanding of why some people become criminal. The genetic factor of influence due to mental disorders was posed to have a slight role in affecting people to show criminal behavior. Another cause looked at was the combination of genetic and environmental factors, with a possible result of having†¦show more content†¦Looking at the relationship between biological, adoptive parents, and children (some twins, others not) and the results of being separated from biological parents at birth or soon after were the main purposes of these s tudies. The studies were conducted in three different countries, with an attempt to see if these factors related to the children’s criminal offenses both early in life and later on. The authors looked at if there is a genetic liability to violence and if there is a genetic link between violence and alcoholism. Other researchers expanded and reanalyzed on the findings of the earlier tests to come at their results. They were trying to see if violent offending might be heritable. One study looked at severe mental illness and it’s possible genetic relationship to violence. Once again they were compared based on their biological, adoptive parents, and adoption situations. These studies concentrating more on the biological parents and their responsibilities for the outcomes. These authors examine the nature vs. nurture issue in this article. The nature concept being the genetic connection, and the nurture concept being the social (environmental) influence. They look at both factors throughout the article although the article is more heavily devoted to the nature issue. I feel that they both relate and intertwine with each other. I feel that alone your genetic makeup is not going to make you more likely to commit aShow MoreRelatedThe Case Of Landrigan Vs. Stewart1546 Words   |  7 PagesLandrigan vs. Stewart was a great example of how behavioral genetics can have both a negative and positive effects on criminal cases Landrigan had filed a petition because he claimed he did not have an effective counsel during the penalty phase of his capital case (Farahany, Beret).. After four years of being sentenced he said he would have been cooperative if his attorney tried to offer evidence, that his biological background ‘made’ him a criminal. Even wi th his effort to chance his sentence the NinthRead MoreWhat Determines Criminal Behavior?1387 Words   |  6 Pagesdetermines criminal behavior? 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