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Exploring Genetic Influences on Criminal Behavior: Insights and Interpretations

In today's session, we'll delve into the complex relationship between genetics and criminality. While it's a common misconception that a single gene can determine criminal behavior, modern behavioral genetics suggests a polygenic influence interacting with environmental factors. We'll review family history studies, twin studies, and adoption studies that explore how genetic factors may influence criminal propensity. Join me as we analyze these findings and discuss the implications of our understanding of criminal behavior, genetics, and environment.

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Exploring Genetic Influences on Criminal Behavior: Insights and Interpretations

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Today’s session

  2. Later on, I will be giving you a lecture on this. But first, I want you to use your psychological skills of interpretation and evaluation to anticipate what I’m going to tell you.

  3. Is there a gene for crime?

  4. No. There isn’t. • ‘Lombrosian’ view: • Single defective gene responsible • Modern behavioural genetics: • Polygenetic influences • Complex interactions with environment • No assumption of defect

  5. Two questions • Is there a genetic influence on crime? • Family history studies • Twin studies • Adoption studies • If so, how does the influence operate?

  6. Family history studies • Osborne & West (1982) • Father has a criminal conviction – 40% of sons do • Father has no criminal conviction – 13% of sons do • Consistent with genetic influence • Also with learning/environment • Suggests genes do not determine criminality

  7. Twin studies • Early studies strongly suggested genetic influence but flaws in sampling, determining zygocity. • More recently: • Christiansen (1977): MZ 35%; DZ 13% • Dalgard & Kringlen (1976): MZ 26%; DZ 15% • Low MZ concordances – influence not strong • Confounding effects of more similar treatment for MZ

  8. Adoption studies • Generally found that adopted children more similar to biological than adoptive parents. • Supports genetic hypothesis but: • Issue of what is being inherited (e.g. alcoholism) • Could be prenatal influences, not genetic • Age at adoption – early influences?

  9. What is being inherited? • Hollin (1992) gives three suggestions: • Abnormal CNS e.g. Low IQ; ADHD • Abnormal ANS e.g. Lack of responsiveness • Abnormal endocrine e.g. Influence of testosterone • Difficult to resolve because of enormous complexity of interactions • Lots of biological correlates of criminality; few obvious causes.

  10. Which bits had you already worked out? • Which bits were new or unexpected given your own interpretation?

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